Phrase guide

baby step

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small effort made towards the completion of a much larger task.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, in-plural

Examples

  • Learning a new language is difficult, so we'll learn by taking baby steps.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the small, awkward movements of a young child learning to walk.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 小進步 /小进步 (xiǎo jìnbù) — small effort
  • Finnish: vauvanaskel — small effort
  • Finnish: pikku askel — small effort
  • German: kleiner Schritt — small effort
  • German: Minischritt — small effort
  • Polish: mały kroczek — small effort
  • Spanish: paso pequeño — small effort
  • Spanish: pequeño paso — small effort
  • Spanish: pasito infantil — small effort