noun · 4 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.
stĕpʹĭng-stōn′
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stəʊn/
General-American:/ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stoʊn/
New-Zealand:/ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stɐʉn/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Examples
He was full of ambition, and force, and life, intending all sorts of great things, and meaning to make his position a stepping stone to all that was excellent in public life.
Esperanto can make a good stepping stone language to Latin, which may be difficult for amateur linguists.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
any means of advancement
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: means, agency, way
4
noun
Meaning 4
a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rock, stone
History
Etymology
First attested circa 1325; first used in the figurative sense circa 1653.
Across languages
Translations
46 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
основопола́гащ ка́мък
(osnovopolágašt kámǎk)
— stone used to cross something
Chinese Mandarin:
墊腳石 /垫脚石
(diànjiǎoshí)
— stone used to cross something
Danish:
trædesten
— stone used to cross something
Esperanto:
travadoŝtono
— stone used to cross something
Finnish:
askelkivi
— stone used to cross something
French:
see pas japonais and gué
— stone used to cross something
German:
Trittstein
— stone used to cross something
Icelandic:
stiklur
— stone used to cross something
Indonesian:
batu loncatan
— stone used to cross something
Italian:
sasseto
— stone used to cross something
Italian:
selciaia
— stone used to cross something
Italian:
acciottolato
— stone used to cross something
Japanese:
飛び石
(tobiishi)
— stone used to cross something
Polish:
kamień do przechodzenia
— stone used to cross something
Portuguese:
poldra
— stone used to cross something
Portuguese:
pondra
— stone used to cross something
Portuguese:
alpondra
— stone used to cross something
Russian:
ка́мень, поло́женный для перехо́да
(kámenʹ, polóžennyj dlja perexóda)
— stone used to cross something
Russian:
ка́мень-присту́пка
(kámenʹ-pristúpka)
— stone used to cross something
Scottish Gaelic:
clacharan
— stone used to cross something
Chinese Mandarin:
墊腳石 /垫脚石
(diànjiǎoshí)
— something used as a way to progress
Danish:
springbræt
— something used as a way to progress
Danish:
trædesten
— something used as a way to progress
Esperanto:
travadoŝtono
— something used as a way to progress
Finnish:
ponnahduslauta
— something used as a way to progress
Finnish:
astinlauta
— something used as a way to progress
French:
marchepied
— something used as a way to progress
French:
tremplin
— something used as a way to progress
French:
palier
— something used as a way to progress
German:
Sprungbrett
— something used as a way to progress
Hebrew:
מַקְפֵּצָה
(maqpetzá)
— something used as a way to progress
Hungarian:
ugródeszka
— something used as a way to progress
Icelandic:
stökkpallur
— something used as a way to progress
Indonesian:
batu loncatan
— something used as a way to progress
Italian:
viatico
— something used as a way to progress
Italian:
trampolino di lancio
— something used as a way to progress
Italian:
trampolino
— something used as a way to progress
Polish:
kamień milowy
— something used as a way to progress
Portuguese:
trampolim
— something used as a way to progress
Russian:
ступе́нька
(stupénʹka)
— something used as a way to progress
Russian:
трампли́н
(tramplín)
— something used as a way to progress
Russian:
ста́ртовая площа́дка
(stártovaja ploščádka)
— something used as a way to progress
Russian:
плацда́рм
(placdárm)
— something used as a way to progress
Spanish:
trampolín
— something used as a way to progress
Swedish:
språngbräda
— something used as a way to progress
Tagalog:
batong-tuntungan
— something used as a way to progress
