1
as in to visit
to make a brief visit
I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to substitute
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
couldn't find anyone to step in for me so that I could take a break from my caregiving duties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of step in
The restaurant is normally closed on Mondays, but the staff is stepping in to serve its regular tasting menu that night on the family’s behalf.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Your story could help influence someone to take the next step in their pet adoption journey.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration has not announced steps in response.
—Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
The rollout of the eco-design module is a key step in Fairly Made’s journey.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step in
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Your story could help influence someone to take the next step in their pet adoption journey.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration has not announced steps in response.
—Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
The rollout of the eco-design module is a key step in Fairly Made’s journey.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step in
Verb
-
Dragos found that in the months that followed, the group was scanning the internet for vulnerable industrial control system devices, as well as visiting the websites of those devices’ manufacturers to read about them.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
14 Apr. 2025
-
More than a thousand students visited in the fall of 2024.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Families who tend to buy pricier, higher-quality items can avoid the price hikes this summer by substituting down to lower-quality clothes and other goods, Gee said.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Again, this substitutes a new process for traditional analysis of weighted inputs, prompting and supervision.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Barry is standing in a sprawling suite that represents the resort's latest foray into wellness.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
But standing in a busy subway station, Duffy vowed to continue providing the city with federal support and confirmed the administration has not withheld funding.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The grants were the Biden administration’s idea to fill in the gaps and aid in the expensive new field of EV charging.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
-
ADUs are a great way to provide affordable housing to fill in urban areas without replacing existing homes or changing the scale of existing neighborhoods.—
Andrew Wimer,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Gators went on a 7-0 run in a little more than a minute to cut the lead down to four with about 12 minutes to go.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
-
In fact, Lyons scored the game’s only touchdown, a three-yard run in the third quarter that gave the Navy team the victory.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
However, today most young people rarely call each other.—
Andrea Wigfield,
CNN,
14 Feb. 2023
-
Marx himself would call DEI a classic case of ideology, a set of benign-seeming ideas that disguise the workings of the rulers, in this case empowered progressives.—
WSJ,
WSJ,
14 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Step in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20in. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share