The word "stepping ups" may seem a bit confusing in terms of spelling. However, when broken down phonetically using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), its pronunciation is clearer. The IPA transcription would be /ˈstɛpɪŋ ʌps/. The first syllable of "stepping" is pronounced with a short e sound followed by the p sound. The second syllable of "ups" is pronounced with a short u sound followed by the p and s sounds. The word "stepping ups" means to make progress or move forward in a specific area.