: 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
Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Its step-in design is easy to put on and take off and the snap closure only adds to the convenience.
—Jené Luciani Sena
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
That lasted until Chief Executive David Zaslav stepped in.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-in
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The question remains, can Gen Z workers step-in to fill all of this bubbling construction demand?
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Its step-in design is easy to put on and take off and the snap closure only adds to the convenience.
—Jené Luciani Sena
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
Despite lacking X-rays, antibiotics, adequate anesthesia or other tools of modern surgery, Williams stepped in.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025
That lasted until Chief Executive David Zaslav stepped in.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 July 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 Jul. 2025.
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