step-up

or step·up

[ step-uhp ]

/ ˈstɛpˌʌp /

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See synonyms for step-up on Thesaurus.com

adjective

effecting an increase.

Electricity. serving to increase voltage: a step-up transformer.

(of a lease) allowing for gradual rent increases to the highest amount permissible.

noun

an increase or rise in the rate or quantity of something.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of step-up

First recorded in 1890–95; adj., noun use of verb phrase step up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use step-up in a sentence

He urged him to “force the president to step up to the plate and take responsibility for his actions.”
How the Reagan White House Bungled Its Response to Iran-Contra Revelations|Malcolm Byrne|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every other year Adam Shankman was doing a Step Up movie and we could give them a role in that as a prize.
Nigel Lythgoe on How to Save Reality TV, ‘On the Town,’ and ‘Brokeback Ballroom’|Kevin Fallon|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A video and images of actress Briana Evigan of the Step Up films also leaked.
‘The Fappening 3’: More Celeb Nudes of Cara Delevingne and Others Leak Online|Marlow Stern|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The nurse pleaded with the UN Security Council, and the international community as a whole, to step up their response.
Health Care Worker Pleads With UN: Help Ebola Victims Dying ‘Horrible, Undignified Death’|Abby Haglage|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The U.S. should step up intelligence cooperation with India to prevent and deter attacks such as the ones in Mumbai and Herat.
Nuclear Pakistan's Spies Target India—and Their Own Prime Minister|Bruce Riedel|September 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As we are quite invisible, we just step up beside the driver as the engine moves, and he knows nothing about us.
Little Folks|Various
And the human creatures were requested to step up and help themselves to such as suited their tastes.
Unveiling a Parallel|Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella Marchant
Nodding and smirking at Morsfield's approach, she entreated Aminta to step up and in, for the horses were coming out of the yard.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete|George Meredith
Then, advancing with a slow and noiseless step up the area, he placed himself immediately before the footstool of the sage.
The Last of the Mohicans|James Fenimore Cooper
While this is being done, ladies and gentlemen, I wish that three of you would step up on the stage.
A Parody Outline of History|Donald Ogden Stewart

British Dictionary definitions for step-up

step up

verb (adverb) informal

(tr) to increase or raise by stages; accelerate

(intr) to make progress or effect an advancement; be promoted

step up to the plate US

baseball to move into batting position
to come forward and take responsibility for something

adjective step-up (prenominal)

(of a transformer) increasing a low voltage applied to the primary winding to a higher voltage on the secondary windingCompare step down (def. 4)

informal involving a rise by stages

noun step-up

informal an increment in quantity, size, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with step-up

step up

Increase, especially in stages, as in We've got to step up production. [Early 1900s] Also see step down, def. 2.

Come forward, as in Step up to the podium, folks, and I'll show you how it works. [Mid-1600s]