stepping stone
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stepping stone
- /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stəʊn/ UK
- /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stoʊn/ US
- /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ stɐʉn/ New Zealand
Where it comes from
First attested circa 1325; first used in the figurative sense circa 1653.
noun stepping stones · stepping-stone · steppingstone
- A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek. Falling—her veriest stepping-stone Shall form the pedestal of a throne— […]
- Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else. 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.
Translations
Every language
noun stone used to cross something
| 日本語 | 飛び石 tobiishi |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 墊腳石 /垫脚石 diànjiǎoshí |
| Português | poldra, pondra, alpondra |
| Français | see pas japonais and gué |
| Deutsch | Trittstein |
| Italiano | sasseto, selciaia, acciottolato |
| Русский | ка́мень, поло́женный для перехо́да kámenʹ, polóžennyj dlja perexóda, ка́мень-присту́пка kámenʹ-pristúpka |
noun something used as a way to progress
| Español | trampolín |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 墊腳石 /垫脚石 diànjiǎoshí |
| Português | trampolim |
| Français | marchepied, tremplin, palier |
| Deutsch | Sprungbrett |
| Italiano | viatico, trampolino di lancio, trampolino |
| Русский | ступе́нька stupénʹka, трампли́н tramplín, ста́ртовая площа́дка stártovaja ploščádka, плацда́рм placdárm |
| עברית | מַקְפֵּצָה maqpetzá |
Talk about this word "stepping stone." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/stepping%20stone. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. stepping stone. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/stepping%20stone "stepping stone." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/stepping%20stone.Cite this
@misc{stepping_stone_2026,
title = {stepping stone},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/stepping%20stone},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
