What does "steps" mean?
plural of step.
Steps
/stɛps/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: plural of step.
- Grammar: steps is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: abdicate, advance, back stairs, companion.
- Useful contrasts: continue, halt, jetway.
- Usage evidence: If you're not careful, you might slip and fall on the icy steps.
How to use "steps"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "steps" 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 "steps" 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 "steps" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "steps" 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 "steps" is acting as noun, verb 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 "abdicate" 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 "steps", 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 plural of step. form-of, plural
"Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines."
- 2 a course followed by a person in walking or as walking plural, plural-only
"She followed the steps of the girl beside her"
- 3 a flight of stairs or a flight of steps wordnet
- 4 a flight of stairs, especially out of doors plural, plural-only
"He clumped up the steps."
- 5 the course along which a person has walked or is walking in wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 stepladder British, plural, plural-only
Verb
- 1 third-person singular simple present indicative of step form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"If you're not careful, you might slip and fall on the icy steps."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "steps"?
Common synonyms include: abdicate, advance, back stairs, companion, companionway, dance move.
How do you use "steps" in a sentence?
If you're not careful, you might slip and fall on the icy steps.
How do you pronounce "steps"?
Pronounced /stɛps/.