idiom · neutral
a stepping stone (to)
UK/ə ˈstɛpɪŋ stəʊn/US/ə ˈstɛpɪŋ stoʊn/A·STEP·ping·STONE
an action or experience that helps someone make progress toward a long‑term goal.
Examples
“That internship was a stepping stone to a permanent position at the firm.”
“Many students see community volunteering as a stepping stone to future careers in public service.”
“Learning a second language can be a stepping stone to studying abroad.”
Band 8 sentence
“Securing a local exhibition was a valuable stepping stone to gaining national recognition for the artist's work.”
Collocations
- a stepping stone to a career
- serve as a stepping stone
Word family
Common mistakes
stepping stone to become→a stepping stone to
a stepping stone for→a stepping stone to
Say it for a higher band
5a step→6a stepping stone→7+a stepping stone (to)
Synonyms
a springboard
Easily confused
a springboard
“The scholarship acted as a springboard for her international career.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Success
Learn it with its set