really stepping up

USAGE SUMMARY

"really stepping up" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone taking on more responsibility or showing increased effort. Example: "During the project, she is really stepping up to lead the team." Alternative expressions include "taking charge" and "rising to the occasion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"That's really stepping up".

The New York Times - Sports

He's really stepping up the rhetoric against Russia.

The Guardian

So for some of these kids, it's a huge learning curve, and they're really stepping up".

The New York Times

"The buyers now are certainly more wary, and afraid of overspending, but people are really stepping up to the plate to buy," she said.

The New York Times

So how do you know if your organisation is really stepping up to the innovation challenge, or is still languishing in the land of rhetorical platitudes?

The Guardian

"The Afghans are really stepping up to the mark," the senior NATO official said, but he offered no statistics on missions undertaken either solely or predominantly by Afghan forces.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"He really stepped up today".

The New York Times - Sports

We really stepped up on defense.

The New York Times - Sports

"He really stepped up on both ends".

The New York Times - Sports

She really stepped up to the plate.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's really stepped up," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, consider whether a more precise verb like "intensifying" or "enhancing" might better suit the context

Common error

Do not stack multiple intensifiers such as "very really stepping up" or "completely really stepping up". The word "really" already provides sufficient emphasis, and adding more makes the sentence cluttered and less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "really stepping up" functions as an intensified phrasal verb phrase. The adverb "really" serves as an intensifier that modifies the progressive form of the phrasal verb "step up". In the contexts provided by Ludwig, it often appears as a predicate describing a subject's current state of improved performance or increased commitment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "really stepping up" is a robust and effective phrase for highlighting significant improvement or the assumption of new responsibilities. Ludwig AI data shows it is most prevalent in News & Media and Sports contexts, where it often denotes a person or group "rising to the occasion". While it is grammatically correct and widely understood, writers in strictly formal or scientific environments might prefer alternatives like "increasing intensity" or "taking initiative". Overall, it remains a powerful tool for emphasizing proactive and praiseworthy growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rising to the occasion

suggests specifically performing well under pressure or during a crisis

upping their game

idiomatic expression focusing on improving performance levels

significantly improving

more literal and formal way to describe better results

taking more initiative

highlights the proactive nature of the person's actions

increasing their effort

focuses on the labor or energy being expended

assuming greater responsibility

more formal and suitable for corporate performance reviews

demonstrating leadership

emphasizes the guiding or authoritative aspect of the behavior

taking charge

implies a more forceful assumption of control

going the extra mile

idiomatic emphasis on doing more than what is required

showing real progress

focuses on the visible advancement rather than the action itself

FAQs

How to use "really stepping up" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an increase in effort, such as: "Our team is "really stepping up" to meet the deadline".

What can I say instead of "really stepping up" in a business email?

For a more professional tone, you might use "taking on more responsibility" or "showing great initiative".

Is "really stepping up" too informal for a performance review?

While common in spoken feedback, in a formal written review, it is often better to use "exceeding expectations" or "demonstrating significant growth".

What is the difference between "really stepping up" and "stepping up"?

The addition of "really" serves as an intensifier, signaling that the improvement is not just occurring, but is particularly noteworthy or impressive compared to previous levels.