Stepping Stone

Pronunciation: /ˈstɛpɪŋ stoʊn/

Definitions of stepping stone

noun a means of progress or advancement

Example Sentences

A1 A stepping stone is a flat stone that you can step on to cross a stream.

A2 Using flashcards can be a helpful stepping stone to learning new vocabulary.

B1 Completing an internship can be a valuable stepping stone to starting a career in a specific field.

B2 Earning a bachelor's degree can be seen as a significant stepping stone towards pursuing a master's degree.

C1 Publishing a research paper in a reputable journal can serve as a crucial stepping stone in an academic career.

C2 Winning a prestigious award can be a significant stepping stone towards gaining recognition in the industry.

Examples of stepping stone in a Sentence

formal Education is often seen as a stepping stone to a successful career.

informal Getting a part-time job can be a good stepping stone to gaining work experience.

slang Internships are a great stepping stone to landing a full-time job.

figurative Learning to ride a bike was a stepping stone in gaining independence as a child.

Grammatical Forms of stepping stone

• past tense: stepped
• plural: stepping stones
• comparative: more stepping stone
• superlative: most stepping stone
• present tense: step
• future tense: will step
• perfect tense: have stepped
• continuous tense: is stepping
• singular: stepping stone
• positive degree: stepping stone
• infinitive: to step
• gerund: stepping
• participle: stepped

Origin and Evolution of stepping stone

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'stepping stone' originated from the literal stones used to step across a body of water or difficult terrain.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'stepping stone' has evolved to also represent a transitional or intermediate stage in a process or journey, not just a physical object used for stepping.