stepping stone

noun
UK: /ˈstepɪŋ stəʊn/
US: /ˈstepɪŋ stoʊn/

  1. Something that helps you to achieve something bigger or more important.

    1. This job was just a stepping stone for him.
    2. I see this project as a stepping stone to a more senior position within the company, building my experience.

  2. A stone that is one of a series of stones that are far enough apart to allow someone to walk across a stream or river.

    1. We used stepping stones to cross the creek.
    2. Carefully placing each foot, she used the stepping stone path to navigate the shallow but fast-flowing river.

Synonyms

milestone building block foothold

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "stepping stone" in English means: Something that helps you to achieve something bigger or more important., A stone that is one of a series of stones that are far enough apart to allow someone to walk across a stream or river..

The phonetic transcription of "stepping stone" is /ˈstepɪŋ stəʊn/ in British English and /ˈstepɪŋ stoʊn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "stepping stone": milestone, building block, foothold.

Example usage of "stepping stone": "This job was just a stepping stone for him.". More examples on the page.