: 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
Synonyms
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
Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023
The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet, a spacious bath with double vanities and step-in shower, and sliders to a private balcony.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
Three more bedrooms share a stylish new double-entry bath with step-in shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
The frame uses a three-point mounting system to increase power transfer, control, and stability with this step-in design.
—Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2023
An OrthoLite sockliner improves step-in comfort as well.
—Gaby Keiderling, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 June 2023
Upstairs, three bedrooms share a bath with jetted soaking tub and step-in shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2023
The primary bedroom has a private bath with step-in shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2023
That ruling prompted Attorney General Tim Griffin to file an emergency motion Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to step-in and overturn Wright’s order.
—Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2023
Tim Bielik, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023
The Highland Park estate at 3637 Maplewood Ave. impresses with sophisticated style from your first step in the door.
—Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023
Wang, who held the role of foreign minister for a decade until the end of last year and then stepped in again following Qin’s removal, is expected to continue his diplomatic travels with a visit to Moscow on Monday.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 17 Sep. 2023
Epic Healing Eugene - America's first licensed psilocybin service center - opened in June, marking Oregon's unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public.
—CBS News, 16 Sep. 2023
Epstein’s logical next step in baseball would be to build an expansion team from the ground up as part of the ownership group.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
But this is just the first step in the appellate process.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023
This week, Martina Ibañez-Baldor, De Los design director, steps in to write about her family’s experience living through the 1973 Chilean coup.
—Martina Ibáñez-Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
In the end, officials determined the frenzied dental office visit was one stop in a bizarre heist that began with a sizable theft from the Brea Mall Macy’s and ended with a rideshare driver at the helm of the suspects’ getaway car — unbeknownst to the driver — before police officers stepped in.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
The entry floor holds the main bath plus two bedrooms; both have mini-split heat pumps, and the primary offers a walk-in closet and private bath with step-in double shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023
The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet, a spacious bath with double vanities and step-in shower, and sliders to a private balcony.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2023
Three more bedrooms share a stylish new double-entry bath with step-in shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
The frame uses a three-point mounting system to increase power transfer, control, and stability with this step-in design.
—Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2023
An OrthoLite sockliner improves step-in comfort as well.
—Gaby Keiderling, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 June 2023
Upstairs, three bedrooms share a bath with jetted soaking tub and step-in shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2023
The primary bedroom has a private bath with step-in shower.
—Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2023
That ruling prompted Attorney General Tim Griffin to file an emergency motion Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to step-in and overturn Wright’s order.
—Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2023
Verb
On a third-and-3 at the Steelers 16-yard line, Grant Delpit read the eyes of Kenny Pickett and stepped in front of a pass intended for George Pickens.
—Tim Bielik, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2023
The Highland Park estate at 3637 Maplewood Ave. impresses with sophisticated style from your first step in the door.
—Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023
Wang, who held the role of foreign minister for a decade until the end of last year and then stepped in again following Qin’s removal, is expected to continue his diplomatic travels with a visit to Moscow on Monday.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 17 Sep. 2023
Epic Healing Eugene - America's first licensed psilocybin service center - opened in June, marking Oregon's unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public.
—CBS News, 16 Sep. 2023
Epstein’s logical next step in baseball would be to build an expansion team from the ground up as part of the ownership group.
—Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
But this is just the first step in the appellate process.
—Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023
This week, Martina Ibañez-Baldor, De Los design director, steps in to write about her family’s experience living through the 1973 Chilean coup.
—Martina Ibáñez-Baldor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
In the end, officials determined the frenzied dental office visit was one stop in a bizarre heist that began with a sizable theft from the Brea Mall Macy’s and ended with a rideshare driver at the helm of the suspects’ getaway car — unbeknownst to the driver — before police officers stepped in.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'step-in.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near step-in
Cite this Entry
“Step-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step-in. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
step-in
noun-ˌin
: an article of clothing (as a dress or shoes) that can be put on by being stepped into
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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