1.
even more, all the more, noticeably
Indicates that something has increased or improved by a noticeable degree compared to before. Emphasizes a step up from a previous level.
秋になって一段と寒くなった。
It got noticeably colder when autumn arrived.
練習の成果で一段と上手になった。
Thanks to practice, she became even more skillful.
ライトアップされた紅葉は一段と美しかった。
The illuminated autumn leaves were all the more beautiful.
一段と means "by one step more" and indicates a noticeable increase or improvement compared to a previous state. Typically modifies adjectives or verbs expressing change.
COMPOUND: 一段 (one step/level) + と (adverbial particle)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 一段と寒くなる: to get noticeably colder
- 一段と美しい: even more beautiful
- 一段と上手になる: to become even more skillful
- 一段と厳しくなる: to become even stricter
SIMILAR WORDS:
- さらに: furthermore, even more (neutral, also used in lists)
- ますます: more and more, increasingly (emphasizes ongoing progression)
- いっそう: all the more (slightly more formal, often literary)
The key distinction: 一段と emphasizes a noticeable jump to a higher level, while ますます emphasizes continuous gradual increase.