: an article of clothing put on by being stepped into: such as
a
: a shoe resembling but usually having a higher vamp than a pump and having concealed elastic to adjust the fit
b
: short panties for women
—usually used in plural
step-in
adjective
stepped in; stepping in; steps in
1
a
: to intervene in an affair or dispute
b
: to act as a replacement
2
: to make a brief informal visit
Examples of step-in in a Sentence
Verb
I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class.
couldn't find anyone to step in for me so that I could take a break from my caregiving duties
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
The shoes come in four color options with pull tabs for simple step-in wear.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Economics has a lot to do with it; so does a changing culture; so does the rise of charter schools, which have stepped in to provide free, high-quality public alternatives rather than private ones.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-in
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Mingyang took the center of the Octagon from the beginning, landed hard leg kicks, and opened a nasty gash on Smith’s forehead with a step-in elbow.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
The shoes come in four color options with pull tabs for simple step-in wear.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Although Meta has made a laudable step in regulating social media for teens, its use of AI does not address the addictive or compulsive component of social media that could have devastating effects on the developing brain.
—Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Economics has a lot to do with it; so does a changing culture; so does the rise of charter schools, which have stepped in to provide free, high-quality public alternatives rather than private ones.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-in
Cite this Entry
“Step-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step-in. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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