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step out

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

Leave a room or place for a short time, or go out somewhere.

Literal meaning: To take a step outside of a space.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To leave a room, building, or space briefly and temporarily.

"Could you excuse me? I need to step out to take this phone call."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 neutral

To go out socially, often dressed smartly for an occasion.

"They decided to step out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary."

Grammar: inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic informal

(Dated/informal) To have a romantic relationship with someone; to be dating.

"Back in those days, everyone in town knew he was stepping out with the baker's daughter."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

The sense of briefly leaving a room is very common in formal or professional settings ('I need to step out for a moment'). The social sense ('step out for the evening') is neutral and slightly formal. The romantic sense ('stepping out with someone') is dated/old-fashioned.

Commonly used with

moment briefly office evening call meeting

Forms

Base
step out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
steps out
he/she/it
Past simple
steped out
yesterday
Past participle
steped out
have + pp
-ing form
steping out
continuous

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Synonyms

duck out slip out head out go out pop out nip out

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