step on
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle on
Meanings
Place your foot on something
Why “on”? Something touches, grips, or sticks to a surface.
“Don't step on the flowers.”
“Leo stepped on the bathroom scale.”
Don't confuse with
Step on means place your foot on something. Step in means become involved in a difficult situation to help.
Test yourself
“Don't step on the flowers.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
step in
A contrast learners often mix up
Become involved in a difficult situation to help
get on
Same on pattern: surface
Board a bus, train or plane; Have a good relationship; Make progress with a task; Manage to dress yourself in; Be growing old; Continue with a task without delay
give on
Same on pattern: surface
Open onto or face a place
glue on
Same on pattern: surface
Fix in place with glue
hang on
Same on pattern: surface
Wait for a short time; Hold something tightly; Keep something rather than giving it away
hold on
Same on pattern: surface
Wait for a short time; Grip something tightly to avoid falling; Endure or persist through difficulty
hop on
Same on pattern: surface
Climb onto a moving vehicle
latch on
Same on pattern: surface
Attach yourself firmly to someone or something
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “step on”.
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