# stepping

/ˈstɛpɪŋ/ (US) · /stˈɛpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stepping
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. the act of a step

noun · CEFR B1

the physical act of taking a step.

For teachers: the action of taking a step or the sound produced by it.

- The stepping of the soldiers could be heard from a mile away.
- The rhythmic stepping of the marchers echoed through the narrow streets, creating a steady pulse that dominated the morning air.

### 3. dance style

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a style of dance where you use your feet and hands to make loud, complex rhythms.

For teachers: a percussive dance form, primarily African-American, using the body as an instrument through footsteps, claps, and spoken word.

- The university team won the national competition for stepping.
- The performance featured intricate stepping sequences that required perfect synchronisation between the twenty dancers on stage.

### 4. processor version

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific version or update of a computer's brain (the CPU).

For teachers: an iteration or revision level of a microprocessor design, often identifying fixed bugs or minor feature changes.

- The new stepping of the processor runs much cooler than the first version.
- The system administrator checked the CPU stepping to ensure the hardware was compatible with the latest security patch for speculative execution vulnerabilities.

## Examples

- She is stepping carefully over the puddle.
- The instructor asked everyone to start stepping in time with the music to keep the rhythm.
- By stepping back from the immediate details of the project, the manager was able to gain a much clearer perspective on the long-term goals.

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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.
