as in intensifying
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
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Recent Examples of stepping up
The grueling reality of a playoff series without the high-scoring duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, so far, has left the Lakers needing every extra inch, players up and down the roster stepping up in their absence.
—
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The 40-year-old initially joined as an assistant coach with the under-21s before stepping up to be their head coach after the departure of Filipe Coelho to join Rosenior’s Strasbourg staff last summer.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Local churches and volunteers are stepping up to support those who've lost everything or have been forced out of their homes.
—Nakell Williams, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Governments are stepping up contingency measures.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Atlanta police and law enforcement in the surrounding counties are stepping up their actions against teen takeovers ahead of reports of another event this weekend.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Make an attempt at stepping up your game!
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
While on the podcast, Arkapaw reflected on how over the last five years, Coogler never questioned Arkapaw stepping up to shoot a blockbuster film, nor having shot on large format 70mm and IMAX film.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
The world’s two most populous countries are stepping up regulation of delivery platforms in a bid to curb damaging competitive practices.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
The 40-year-old initially joined as an assistant coach with the under-21s before stepping up to be their head coach after the departure of Filipe Coelho to join Rosenior’s Strasbourg staff last summer.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Local churches and volunteers are stepping up to support those who've lost everything or have been forced out of their homes.
—Nakell Williams, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Governments are stepping up contingency measures.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Atlanta police and law enforcement in the surrounding counties are stepping up their actions against teen takeovers ahead of reports of another event this weekend.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Make an attempt at stepping up your game!
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
While on the podcast, Arkapaw reflected on how over the last five years, Coogler never questioned Arkapaw stepping up to shoot a blockbuster film, nor having shot on large format 70mm and IMAX film.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
The world’s two most populous countries are stepping up regulation of delivery platforms in a bid to curb damaging competitive practices.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping up
Verb
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Once free of quota constraints, the Emirates can up its production by more than 40% to 5 million barrels per day, intensifying competition in markets where sub-Saharan Africa’s higher-cost producers are already vulnerable.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The market value of media and entertainment stocks remains suppressed, however, amid intensifying competition from tech and streaming companies.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
These spillover effects are deepening an arc of instability stretching from Europe to the Middle East, from Africa to Asia.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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While announcing Jacobson’s hiring, Stagwell said her responsibilities will include expanding ReachTV’s footprint and deepening its content partnerships.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The expansion is also expected to add more natural light, green space and a new lobby in the hopes of enhancing comfort and care for families, hospital leaders, who touted the tower as a ‘transformative project,’ said on Wednesday.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
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Work may need to be repeatedly translated between systems, increasing the effort required for alignment without necessarily enhancing output.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, his ex-wife—played by Field—becomes increasingly self-reliant, heightening the strain between them.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
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While lower costs could boost margins for existing developers, the technology will also lower barriers to entry, potentially heightening competition.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Microsoft committed $10 billion in 2023, strengthening OpenAI’s commercial expansion.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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That includes supporting fuel supply and infrastructure, developing pilot and demonstration projects, strengthening port-to-port data connectivity, and promoting interoperability, cybersecurity and common standards.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepping up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20up. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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