step-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈstep-ˌin 

: 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

step in

2 of 2

verb

stepped in; stepping in; steps in

intransitive verb

1

a

: to intervene in an affair or dispute

b

: to act as a replacement

2

: to make a brief informal visit

Synonyms

Verb

• call
• come by
• come over
• drop by
• drop in
• pop (in)
• run (over)
• run in
• stop (by or in)
• 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

Noun

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

The newest version features a roomier step-in, a better heel fit, and the same signature cloud-like cushioning. —Jennifer Vermeer, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2025

Verb

But hydrogen needs to be produced, stored, and delivered, and every step in that process consumes energy. —Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025

Sergey Stavisky, senior author of the paper on this tech that's set to appear in Nature, explained that this is a major step in that direction. —Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1921, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for step-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin

Kids Definition

step-in

noun

-ˌin

: an article of clothing (as a dress or shoes) that can be put on by being stepped into