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Definition of steppingstone

steppingstone

/ˈstɛp.ɪŋˌstoʊn/
step · ping · stone
Plural:steppingstones
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steppingstone Lexical Profile

steppingstone Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American An action, event, or position that helps someone make progress toward a higher goal or achievement.

Example

"She viewed the entry-level internship as a vital steppingstone toward a career in international diplomacy."

2

American A raised flat stone placed in shallow water or muddy ground to provide a dry path for walking across.

Example

"The hikers carefully crossed the shallow creek by hopping from one mossy steppingstone to the next."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for steppingstone
Antonyms
View all antonyms for steppingstone

Word Nuance & Usage

While the closed compound "steppingstone" is accepted in American English, the open form "stepping stone" or hyphenated "stepping-stone" is much more common across global varieties of English.

• Nearby Words

stepparenting
steppe
stepper
steppingstone
steprelationship
stepsister
stepson

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Steppingstone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/steppingstone
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