step up

step up — 片語動詞

  • 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

挺身而出

在需要時自願提供協助或資訊

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.

專案組長生病時，Jack 挺身而出負責協調團隊的工作。

step up to + infinitive for taking responsibility

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

機構徵求口譯人員，Wei 便挺身而出為那些家庭翻譯。

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

加強；增加

提高規模、速度或數量上的增長

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.

這家工廠加快生產，以應付來自韓國的大筆訂單。

step up + production (transitive)

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

Maeve 為了比賽把訓練從每週三次增加到五次。

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 — 名詞