half-step verb 2half step noun 1forms 4 verb2 •(slang) To back down from; fail to follow through or complete; to be slack •(slang) To fail to display full commitment, preparation, or genuineness; to be a poser; to be a fake or fraudNo half-steppin', either you want it or you just playin' / I'm listenin' to you knowin' I can't believe what you sayin' — 2014 half step noun1 •(US) The distance between two tones. In 12-tone equal temperament, its frequency ratio is 2^(1/12), or about 1.059 or 18/17. formshalf-stepped · half-stepping · half-steps · half steps