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• step-down
  step-down

  adjective

  serving to reduce or decrease voltage.
• step down
  step down

  verb

  (tr) to reduce gradually

step-down

American  

[step-doun] / ˈstɛpˌdaʊn /

adjective

Electricity.

1. serving to reduce or decrease voltage.

   a step-down transformer.

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step down British  

verb

1. (tr) to reduce gradually

2. informal (intr) to resign or abdicate (from a position)

3. informal (intr) to assume an inferior or less senior position

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adjective

1. (of a transformer) reducing a high voltage applied to the primary winding to a lower voltage on the secondary winding Compare step up

2. decreasing or falling by stages

noun

1. informal a decrease in quantity or size

step down Idioms  

1. Resign from office, as in He threatened to step down if they continued to argue with him . [Late 1800s]

2. Reduce, especially in stages, as in They were stepping down the voltage . [c. 1900] Also see step up , def. 1.

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Etymology

Origin of step-down

First recorded in 1890–95; adj. use of verb phrase step down

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

step-down step down

This and a step-down in exits meant EQT’s fee-generating assets under management at the end of the first half exceeded expectations by 10 billion euros at 155.4 billion euros, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Still, revenue fell by roughly $678 million from the prior quarter, given Covid seasonality and a step-down in vaccination rates from 2025, Tsai noted.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

At the center of the new design is an improved version of a widely used component known as a DC-DC step-down converter.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2026

“The membership trajectory is tracking very nicely in line with our expectations, including that big step-down from January to February,” she said.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 10, 2026

If the pressure or voltage of the secondary coil is less than that of the primary, we have a "step-down" transformer.

From The Story of Great Inventions by Elmer Ellsworth Burns

The German telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom said Chief Financial Officer Christian Illek would step down in April, citing his age, after more than eight years in the role and 20 years with the company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Nchimbi, who shared his brief resignation letter on his Instagram account on Tuesday morning, is the first vice-president to step down in Tanzania's history.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Macron is due to step down next spring after serving the maximum two consecutive terms allowed in office.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

Raman asked off mic as Bass challenged her to step down from all her boards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

He took another step down toward the final, ornate green-handled door.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

Related Words

• abandon
• abdicate
• bow out
• drop out
• leave
• quit
• retire
• terminate