1 A2 neutral
To lift your foot and place it on the other side of something, avoiding contact with it.
"She stepped over the sleeping dog in the hallway without waking it."
inseparable
step over
A2 neutral inseparable transitive
To lift your foot and move it over an obstacle or person, or to ignore/bypass something intentionally.
In plain English
Lift your foot over something that's in your way, or choose to ignore something.
What does "step over" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To deliberately ignore or bypass a problem, rule, or boundary.
"The manager stepped over the proper procedures and approved the project himself."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically move one's foot over an object lying on the ground.
Actually means
Lift your foot over something that's in your way, or choose to ignore something.
Usage tip
The literal sense is very common and transparent. The figurative sense (stepping over a rule, issue, or boundary) implies deliberate bypassing and is used in formal and informal contexts.
Words that pair with "step over"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
puddle body obstacle boundary line issue
How to conjugate "step over"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
step over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
steps over
he/she/it
Past simple
steped over
yesterday
Past participle
steped over
have + pp
-ing form
steping over
continuous
Hear "step over" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "step over" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "step over"
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Keep exploring
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