What does "doorstep" mean?
An outside step leading up to the door of a building, usually a home.
Doorstep
/ˈdɔː(ɹ)stɛp/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An outside step leading up to the door of a building, usually a home.
- Grammar: doorstep is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: threshold, doorsill, edge, footrest.
- Useful contrasts: indoor space.
- Usage evidence: Looking out of the window, I saw a stranger at the doorstep.
How to use "doorstep"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "doorstep" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "doorstep" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "doorstep" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "doorstep" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "doorstep" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "threshold" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "doorstep", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An outside step leading up to the door of a building, usually a home.
"Ailie was standing by the doorstep as he came down the road, and her heart stood still with joy."
- 2 the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway wordnet
- 3 One's immediate neighbourhood or locality. figuratively
"They want to build the prison right on our doorstep; it will only be half a mile away and being that close scares me."
- 4 A thick slice, especially of bread. UK, informal
"I cut myself a doorstep of bread with masses of butter and went along to see Romanov while I was eating it."
Verb
- 1 To visit one household after another to solicit sales, charitable donations, political support, etc. intransitive
- 2 To corner somebody for an unexpected interview. transitive
"Throughout her time in journalism, she doorstepped politicians, the child of a politician, crime victims, armed robbers, murderers, suspected murderers..."
Antonyms
indoor space
Example
"Looking out of the window, I saw a stranger at the doorstep."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "doorstep"?
Common synonyms include: threshold, doorsill, edge, footrest, footstep, front step.
How do you use "doorstep" in a sentence?
Looking out of the window, I saw a stranger at the doorstep.
How do you pronounce "doorstep"?
Pronounced /ˈdɔː(ɹ)stɛp/.
Etymology
From door + step.