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Synonyms

stepping stone

British  

noun

  1. one of a series of stones acting as footrests for crossing streams, marshes, etc

  2. a circumstance that assists progress towards some goal

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is just a stepping stone to the real end of the race.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

"Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region," Sharif's office said.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

He was once phenomenal but he's now a stepping stone for younger fighters and a shell of the fighter he once was.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

This is a stepping stone to the building of a multi-sided marketplace, the note says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

But that was itself a mere stepping stone to greater things.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.