# step up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/step-up
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to increase your effort or take more responsibility when a situation becomes difficult or needs a leader.

For teachers: to increase the intensity, quality, or frequency of an activity; alternatively, to assume a leadership role or take responsibility in response to a challenge.

## Examples

- You need to step up your training if you want to win.
- When the manager fell ill, Sarah had to step up and lead the department through the crisis.
- The government has been urged to step up its efforts to combat climate change before the international summit begins.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He stepped up of his efforts." but "He stepped up his efforts." — the verb is transitive in this sense and does not require the preposition 'of' before the object.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'to the plate' in American English or followed by 'your game' to mean improving performance.
- Teaching tip: contrast the literal sense of moving onto a higher platform with the figurative sense of increasing effort; the figurative sense is very common in business and sports contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.