2 syllables: step, wise. Stress on step.
STEP-weyez
/ˈstɛpˌwaɪz/
stepwise is pronounced STEP-weyez (/ˈstɛpˌwaɪz/). It has two syllables (step-wise), with the stress on "step". Stepwise describes a process carried out in small, sequential stages or increments. It often refers to methods, procedures, or analyses that proceed in clearly defined, incremental steps rather than in one or arbitrary leaps. The term emphasizes careful progression and structured planning.
Stepwise describes a process carried out in small, sequential stages or increments. It often refers to methods, procedures, or analyses that proceed in clearly defined, incremental steps rather than in one or arbitrary leaps. The term emphasizes careful progression and structured planning.
- You may mispronounce the second syllable as /wiːz/ or /waɪzɪz/ by extending the vowel or adding an extra syllable. Fix by holding the /aɪ/ diphthong clearly and ending with a crisp /z/ or /s/ depending on voicing. - Another error is blending the two syllables into /ˈstɛpwaɪz/ without a perceptible pause; keep a soft but audible boundary between /stɛp/ and /waɪz/. - A frequent slip is misplacing stress, sounding like /ˈstɛpˌwaɪz/ or /ˈstɛpˌwɪz/; ensure the second syllable carries a light stress or follows the natural two-syllable rhythm. - Finally, some speakers struggle with the /p/ release and immediately lip-rounding for /waɪ/; practice releasing /p/ with a small puff and then slide into /waɪ/.
"The algorithm was implemented in a stepwise fashion, with each stage validated before moving on."
"She approached the project stepwise, breaking tasks into manageable parts."
"The mentor outlined a stepwise plan to optimize the learning curve."
Pronounce it as /ˈstɛpˌwaɪz/. Stress on the first syllable: STEP-. followed by a secondary, lighter stress on the second part. The two syllables are treated as a tight compound: 'step' /stɛp/ and 'wise' /waɪz/. Ensure the /t/ is a clear, aspirated stop and the /w/ blends smoothly into /aɪ/; avoid a heavy 's' before 'wise'. IPA guides here: US/UK/AU share /ˈstɛpˌwaɪz/.
Common mistakes include turning the second syllable into a more open vowel (saying 'wise' with a long 'ee' sound) or slurring the boundary so it sounds like 'stepwise' as one syllable. Another pitfall is misplacing the stress, sounding like /ˈstɛwˌpaɪz/ or mispronouncing the /waɪ/ diphthong as /wiː/. Correct by clearly separating the syllables: STEP- + WISE, maintain /waɪ/ diphthong, and keep the /t/ crisp.
In US/UK/AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable, with /ˈstɛp/ and the second syllable /waɪz/. The /r/ is not present (non-rhotic in many UK accents, though stepwise has no /r/). Vowel quality in /ɛ/ can be slightly more open in US General American, slightly closer in Received Pronunciation. The /aɪ/ diphthong in /waɪz/ is a rising diphthong in all, but the glide can be slightly shorter in AU. Overall variations are subtle; intelligibility remains high across major dialects.
The challenge lies in smoothly transitioning from the /ɛ/ in /stɛp/ to the /aɪ/ in /waɪz/ within a single word, creating a crisp boundary between consonant and diphthong. The /p/ must be released cleanly, and the /w/ must link seamlessly into the /aɪ/ without inserting extra vowels. For non-native speakers, maintaining two-syllable rhythm while avoiding a clipped or slurred boundary requires focused timing and mouth control.
A unique aspect is the boundary between syllables: the /p/ at the end of /stɛp/ and the /w/ at the start of /waɪz/ require precise articulation to keep them distinct yet fluid. Many learners blend /p/ and /w/ into a quicker transition, producing /stɛpwɪz/ or /stɛpwɪz/. Emphasize a brief closure of the lips to stop the /p/, then a small, quick /w/ onset into /aɪ/.
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- US: emphasize the rhotic-neutral /ˈstɛp/ with a clear, aspirated /t/ and then a sharp /waɪz/. The /r/ is not involved here. - UK: keep the non-rhotic character; /ˈstɛp/ is compact, with a slightly crisper /p/; /waɪz/ remains a pure diphthong; minimal change in overall rhythm. - AU: similar to US but with a tendency for a slightly longer, more centralized /æ/ in some speakers; maintain the same /ˈstɛpˌwaɪz/ pattern and watch vowel length. - General tip: practice the boundary between /p/ and /w/ to avoid /p/ + /w/ blending into /p w/.
Stepwise is formed from the combination of the noun step, referring to a move or measure in walking, and the adjective suffix -wise, meaning 'in the manner of' or 'in a particular way.' The root word step derives from Old English stompian, with related Germanic cognates in Dutch and German, and has long been used metaphorically to denote a phase or measure in processes (e.g., the step of a plan). The suffix -wise dates to Middle English and is used to form adverbial or directional meanings (as in clockwise, otherwise). The compound conveys the sense of a sequence of steps (distinct stages) rather than a single action. The first widely attested uses in technical or procedural writing appear in the 19th and 20th centuries, reflecting formalized methods in science, engineering, and mathematics where procedures are described as stepwise to emphasize reproducibility and rigor.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stepwise" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "stepwise"
-ife sounds
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