| 100% | BATTED | 6 | Stepped up to the plate in a ballpark |
| 61% | ATBAT | 5 | Stepping up to the plate |
| 61% | BAT | 3 | Step up to the plate |
| 61% | BATS | 4 | Steps up to the plate |
| 54% | THEPLATE | 8 | Step up to __, take responsibility in a time of crisis |
| 48% | STEP | 4 | ___ up to the plate |
| 47% | SUTURE | 6 | Stitch to sew up a cut in the body |
| 47% | STEP | 4 | Take action, __ up to the plate |
| 46% | STEP | 4 | "___ Up to the Plate, Maria Singh" (2017 novel) |
| 46% | BAT | 3 | Step up to home plate |
| 46% | FORK | 4 | Utensil to the left of the plate in a standard table setting |
| 46% | STIRBUNNY | 9 | *Terse instruction to a rabbit to mix things up in the kitchen? |
| 45% | CONTRETEMPS | 11 | Compound step in ballet to quickly change the direction a dancer is travelling |
| 44% | SKI | 3 | In the movie "A View to a Kill", Bond did this once his snowmobile was blown up |
| 44% | GOODCOP | 7 | Police officer who talks to a suspect before the "bad" version steps in: 2 wds. |
| 44% | BAT | 3 | Step to the plate |
| 43% | BAR | 3 | Belly up to the ___ (order a drink) |
| 43% | HOLE | 4 | Step 3 of making a birdhouse: Cut out a ___ in one of the walls to make place for entry |
| 42% | CUSP | 4 | Days leading up to the next sign, in astrology |
| 42% | HEREUNTO | 8 | Up to this point in a document; until now |
| 42% | BLAST | 5 | Crank up to the highest volume, like a radio |
| 42% | YOLK | 4 | The sun in a "sunny side up" |
| 42% | YOLK | 4 | The sun in a sunny side up |
| 42% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise in a fairytale |
| 42% | NEURALLY | 8 | In a way relating to the brain |
| 42% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise in a fable |
| 42% | FORONCE | 7 | In a rare exception to the rule |
| 42% | TACT | 4 | "The ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes," per Harry Truman |
| 42% | ATBAT | 5 | Trip to the plate for a slugger (Hyph.) |
| 42% | HARE | 4 | Loser to the tortoise in a fabled race |