"step on" meaning in English

See step on in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

Forms: steps on [present, singular, third-person], stepping on [participle, present], stepped on [participle, past], stepped on [past]
Head templates: {{en-verb|*}} step on (third-person singular simple present steps on, present participle stepping on, simple past and past participle stepped on)
  1. (recreational drugs, transitive) To adulterate (a drug) for the purpose of increasing its bulk, and therefore the profit when sold; to dilute, cut. Tags: transitive
    Sense id: en-step_on-en-verb-8UJfS6Bc Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English phrasal verbs formed with "on" Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 15 27 31 7 12 7 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs formed with "on": 18 26 23 6 19 9
  2. (transitive) To oppress or mistreat (a person). Tags: transitive Synonyms: tread
    Sense id: en-step_on-en-verb-0gXHbHkU Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English phrasal verbs formed with "on", Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 15 27 31 7 12 7 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs formed with "on": 18 26 23 6 19 9 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 19 27 20 8 17 8 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 16 40 18 6 14 6
  3. (radio communications, transitive) To interrupt, overpower, or override (another transmission on the same frequency) with one's own transmission. Tags: transitive
    Sense id: en-step_on-en-verb-lL3LAn-u Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English phrasal verbs formed with "on" Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 15 27 31 7 12 7 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs formed with "on": 18 26 23 6 19 9 Topics: broadcasting, media, radio, radio-communications
  4. (intransitive, dated) To approach as to confront or fight. Tags: dated, intransitive
    Sense id: en-step_on-en-verb-XBJlA4-u
  5. (transitive, slang) To intrude on someone else's turf or portfolio. Tags: slang, transitive
    Sense id: en-step_on-en-verb-0vvnel~s Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English phrasal verbs formed with "on" Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 15 27 31 7 12 7 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs formed with "on": 18 26 23 6 19 9
  6. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see step, on.
    Sense id: en-step_on-en-verb-9yaEwrtY

Inflected forms

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "steps on",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "stepping on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "stepped on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "stepped on",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "step on (third-person singular simple present steps on, present participle stepping on, simple past and past participle stepped on)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "15 27 31 7 12 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 26 23 6 19 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs formed with \"on\"",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              50,
              60
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1994 December 18, NICK LEZARD, “Stepped-On X”, in alt.psychoactives (Usenet):",
          "text": "This seems implausible. If ecstasy is going to be stepped on, you'd dilute it with something cheaper than heroin.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To adulterate (a drug) for the purpose of increasing its bulk, and therefore the profit when sold; to dilute, cut."
      ],
      "id": "en-step_on-en-verb-8UJfS6Bc",
      "links": [
        [
          "adulterate",
          "adulterate"
        ],
        [
          "drug",
          "drug"
        ],
        [
          "purpose",
          "purpose"
        ],
        [
          "increasing",
          "increase"
        ],
        [
          "bulk",
          "bulk"
        ],
        [
          "profit",
          "profit"
        ],
        [
          "sold",
          "sell"
        ],
        [
          "dilute",
          "dilute"
        ],
        [
          "cut",
          "cut"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "recreational drugs",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(recreational drugs, transitive) To adulterate (a drug) for the purpose of increasing its bulk, and therefore the profit when sold; to dilute, cut."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "15 27 31 7 12 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 26 23 6 19 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs formed with \"on\"",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "19 27 20 8 17 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "16 40 18 6 14 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              12,
              22
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1985 April 20, Terry Baum, Monica Hileman, “Fighting Self-Censorship”, in Gay Community News, page 12:",
          "text": "He had been stepped on so many times he just didn't even get angry anymore.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              78,
              88
            ],
            [
              92,
              103
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2001, Kevin Leman, Living in a Step-Family Without Getting Stepped on, page 264:",
          "text": "When that happens, you'll be able to move beyond simply trying to avoid being stepped on or stepping on others in your blended family, and you can concentrate on your real goal: […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To oppress or mistreat (a person)."
      ],
      "id": "en-step_on-en-verb-0gXHbHkU",
      "links": [
        [
          "oppress",
          "oppress"
        ],
        [
          "mistreat",
          "mistreat"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To oppress or mistreat (a person)."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "tread"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "15 27 31 7 12 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 26 23 6 19 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs formed with \"on\"",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To interrupt, overpower, or override (another transmission on the same frequency) with one's own transmission."
      ],
      "id": "en-step_on-en-verb-lL3LAn-u",
      "links": [
        [
          "interrupt",
          "interrupt"
        ],
        [
          "overpower",
          "overpower"
        ],
        [
          "override",
          "override"
        ],
        [
          "transmission",
          "transmission"
        ],
        [
          "frequency",
          "frequency"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(radio communications, transitive) To interrupt, overpower, or override (another transmission on the same frequency) with one's own transmission."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "broadcasting",
        "media",
        "radio",
        "radio-communications"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              3,
              13
            ]
          ],
          "text": "He stepped on to the vicious man.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To approach as to confront or fight."
      ],
      "id": "en-step_on-en-verb-XBJlA4-u",
      "links": [
        [
          "approach",
          "approach"
        ],
        [
          "confront",
          "confront"
        ],
        [
          "fight",
          "fight"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive, dated) To approach as to confront or fight."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "15 27 31 7 12 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "18 26 23 6 19 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs formed with \"on\"",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              8,
              19
            ]
          ],
          "text": "They're stepping on our operations.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To intrude on someone else's turf or portfolio."
      ],
      "id": "en-step_on-en-verb-0vvnel~s",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, slang) To intrude on someone else's turf or portfolio."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "slang",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              3,
              13
            ]
          ],
          "text": "He stepped on a rock.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see step, on."
      ],
      "id": "en-step_on-en-verb-9yaEwrtY",
      "links": [
        [
          "step",
          "step#English"
        ],
        [
          "on",
          "on#English"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "step on"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English phrasal verbs",
    "English phrasal verbs formed with \"on\"",
    "English verbs",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "steps on",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "stepping on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "stepped on",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "stepped on",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "step on (third-person singular simple present steps on, present participle stepping on, simple past and past participle stepped on)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              50,
              60
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1994 December 18, NICK LEZARD, “Stepped-On X”, in alt.psychoactives (Usenet):",
          "text": "This seems implausible. If ecstasy is going to be stepped on, you'd dilute it with something cheaper than heroin.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To adulterate (a drug) for the purpose of increasing its bulk, and therefore the profit when sold; to dilute, cut."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "adulterate",
          "adulterate"
        ],
        [
          "drug",
          "drug"
        ],
        [
          "purpose",
          "purpose"
        ],
        [
          "increasing",
          "increase"
        ],
        [
          "bulk",
          "bulk"
        ],
        [
          "profit",
          "profit"
        ],
        [
          "sold",
          "sell"
        ],
        [
          "dilute",
          "dilute"
        ],
        [
          "cut",
          "cut"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "recreational drugs",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(recreational drugs, transitive) To adulterate (a drug) for the purpose of increasing its bulk, and therefore the profit when sold; to dilute, cut."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              12,
              22
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1985 April 20, Terry Baum, Monica Hileman, “Fighting Self-Censorship”, in Gay Community News, page 12:",
          "text": "He had been stepped on so many times he just didn't even get angry anymore.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              78,
              88
            ],
            [
              92,
              103
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2001, Kevin Leman, Living in a Step-Family Without Getting Stepped on, page 264:",
          "text": "When that happens, you'll be able to move beyond simply trying to avoid being stepped on or stepping on others in your blended family, and you can concentrate on your real goal: […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To oppress or mistreat (a person)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "oppress",
          "oppress"
        ],
        [
          "mistreat",
          "mistreat"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To oppress or mistreat (a person)."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "tread"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To interrupt, overpower, or override (another transmission on the same frequency) with one's own transmission."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "interrupt",
          "interrupt"
        ],
        [
          "overpower",
          "overpower"
        ],
        [
          "override",
          "override"
        ],
        [
          "transmission",
          "transmission"
        ],
        [
          "frequency",
          "frequency"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(radio communications, transitive) To interrupt, overpower, or override (another transmission on the same frequency) with one's own transmission."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "broadcasting",
        "media",
        "radio",
        "radio-communications"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English dated terms",
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              3,
              13
            ]
          ],
          "text": "He stepped on to the vicious man.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To approach as to confront or fight."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "approach",
          "approach"
        ],
        [
          "confront",
          "confront"
        ],
        [
          "fight",
          "fight"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive, dated) To approach as to confront or fight."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "dated",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English slang",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              8,
              19
            ]
          ],
          "text": "They're stepping on our operations.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To intrude on someone else's turf or portfolio."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive, slang) To intrude on someone else's turf or portfolio."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "slang",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              3,
              13
            ]
          ],
          "text": "He stepped on a rock.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see step, on."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "step",
          "step#English"
        ],
        [
          "on",
          "on#English"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "step on"
}

Download raw JSONL data for step on meaning in English (4.3kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-06-05 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-06-01 using wiktextract (5ee713e and f1c2b61). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.