From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstepping-stoneˈstepping-ˌstone noun [countable] 1 PROGRESSsomething that helps you to progress towards achieving somethingstepping-stone to/toward(s) The course will be a stepping stone to another career.2 → stepping stones
Examples from the Corpus
stepping-stone• In that image, life events are stepping-stones or crossroads.• As a result regional trading blocs are emerging as natural stepping-stones in an evolutionary process toward a truly global economy.• It was for three years only, but it was a promising stepping-stone to a proper appointment.• And may this book be at least a small stepping-stone on your way.• A different route this time around the back of the mountain, over the stream by way of some stepping-stones.• On my map they look like submerged stepping-stones for a giant King Neptune, each stride 100 kilometers.• Jobs became the stepping-stones for social advancement and personal fulfillment.stepping-stone to/toward(s)• Phrenology also acted as a stepping-stone to various social crusades and encouraged women to take a pride in themselves.• A further problem for the Church is that it may be seen by some people as a stepping-stone to a political career.• But the objective worth of my degree was far surpassed by its value as a stepping-stone to other places, other identities.• National movements were never ends in themselves, only stepping-stones to a liberated world order.• It was for three years only, but it was a promising stepping-stone to a proper appointment.• Unitarianism is often the stepping-stone to a rampant deism.• The provincial competition should be a valuable stepping-stone to international rugby.From Longman Business Dictionarystepping-stoneˈstepping-ˌstone noun [countable] something that helps you to progress towards achieving something, especially in your workThink of this job as a stepping-stone to something better. 