step up

step up — phrasal verb

  • step upbase form
  • steps up3rd person singular
  • stepping up-ing form
  • stepped uppast simple

1. to offer your help, provide information, or accept responsibility when a situati

1.片語動詞不及物B2
釋義

to offer your help, provide information, or accept responsibility when a situation requires someone to act, especially when others are unwilling or unavailable

例句

When the project leader fell ill, Jack stepped up to coordinate the team's work.

step up to + infinitive for taking responsibility

The agency asked for interpreters, and Wei stepped up to translate for the families.

同義詞
  • volunteer

    more neutral; implies being asked rather than noticing a need

  • come forward

    very similar; slightly more formal

  • take charge

    implies assuming leadership, not just helping

反義詞
  • hold back

    hesitate or refuse to act when action is needed

  • stand by

    stay inactive while something happens

文法句型

step up to do something

step up and do something

step up (with no complement)

用法筆記

Covers both 'volunteering help' and 'providing information as a witness or source'. The action is typically voluntary rather than assigned. The alternative pattern 'step to the plate' (from baseball) is an idiom with the same meaning.

常見錯誤

❌I stepped up my hand to answer the question.
✅I stepped up to answer the question.
💡'step up' does not take a body part as an object; the 'up' already carries the meaning of coming forward.
❌She stepped up the promotion.' (using transitive structure for offering help)
✅She stepped up to apply for the promotion.
💡when offering help, use 'step up to' + verb, not 'step up' + direct object.

2. to make something larger, faster, or stronger by adding effort or resources, or

2.片語動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to make something larger, faster, or stronger by adding effort or resources, or to increase in this way on its own

例句

The factory stepped up production to fulfill the large order from South Korea.

step up + production (transitive)

Maeve stepped up her training from three sessions a week to five before the race.

step up + possessive + noun

同義詞
  • increase

    more general; used in a wider range of contexts

  • ramp up

    more informal; specifically about effort or speed

  • boost

    suggests a short, sharp push upward

反義詞

文法句型

step up + noun (transitive)

step something up

something steps up (intransitive)

用法筆記

When transitive, the object can separate the parts: 'step it up' or 'step production up'. Intransitive use (e.g., 'demand stepped up') works for forces like demand, pressure, or competition — NOT for passive physical properties like temperature (use 'rise' or 'increase' instead).

常見錯誤

❌The temperature in the room stepped up after the heater broke.
✅The temperature in the room went up after the heater broke.
💡'step up' is not used for natural physical changes; use 'rise', 'go up', or 'increase'.

step up — noun