stepping
Moving by foot
Stepping is walking, especially with deliberate or measured movement.
The word often appears in phrasal verbs and expressions: stepping out means leaving briefly or going on a date; stepping up means taking responsibility or increasing effort; stepping down means resigning from a position.
To be stepping on someone's toes is to intrude on their territory.
In African American culture, stepping is also a form of percussive dance performed by fraternities and sororities, involving synchronized stomping, clapping, and chanting.
Extended single footstep
- treadSurface that grips ground
- footfallSound of walking
- footstepSingle walking sound
- walkTravel on foot
pace · gait · amble · stroll · saunter · march · shuffle · pacing
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- timeMeasured passage of moments
- pulseArterial blood throb
dance · groove · syncopation · meter · footwork · choreography · tap · stomp
Forward movement or promotion
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- stageRaised performance platform
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- transitionChange from one state
development · growth · evolution · increment · level · threshold · gateway · bridge
Careful to avoid risk
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- gingerlyWith wary caution
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
wary · guarded · mindful · watchful · prudent · circumspect · hesitant · testing
stride
Extended single footstep
walk · pace · gait · amble · stroll · saunter · march · shuffle · pacing · stomp
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
pulse · dance · groove · syncopation · meter · footwork · choreography · tap · stomp · pattern
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- stageRaised performance platform
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
transition · development · growth · evolution · increment · level · threshold · gateway · bridge · pathway
cautious
Careful to avoid risk
deliberate · wary · guarded · mindful · watchful · prudent · circumspect · hesitant · testing · probing
venturing
Taking a risk
leap · plunge · embark · launch · pioneer · trailblazing · courage · daring · enterprise · groundbreaking
stair
Step between floors
ascent · elevation · ledge · platform · terrace · tier · rise · mounting · clamber · scramble
- walkingwalking, brisk walking, strolling, ambling, sauntering
- Body Movementwalking, running, jumping, bending, stretching
- dance qualitiesfluidity, graceful, musicality, rhythmic, grace
- forward motionwalking, running, jogging, sprinting, marching
- leg movementswalking, running, jogging, kicking, striding
- pedestrian actionswalking, crossing, stopping, waiting, standing
steppingretreating
Moving back from advance
stepping back · withdrawing · receding · backing up · regressing
- stepping stonesRocks enabling water passage
- stepping upAssuming more responsibility
- stepping downVoluntarily relinquishing a role
- stepping backMoving away backward
- stepping outLeaving to socialize
- stepping asideRemoving oneself from position
stepping stones, stepping-stone, steppingstone, steppingstones