stepping stone
Britishnoun
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one of a series of stones acting as footrests for crossing streams, marshes, etc
-
a circumstance that assists progress towards some goal
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.
"Since the election of former President Lee Myung-bak, who was a highly visible Seoul mayor, the position has been widely considered a major stepping stone for future presidential hopefuls," he told AFP.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
"It will bring in a lot of income and for younger people playing football it would be a stepping stone for them as well," he said.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
“I like to think of every game as a stepping stone to the next show,” Clarke said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Hours later, Pakistan's government said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met Vance, expressing hope the talks would serve as "a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region".
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
That’s when I notice a crate, a stepping stone to the top of the wall.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
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.
