: 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
Jonathan Beverly, Outside, 26 Dec. 2025
The easy step-in style, which makes these a great pick for slipping on and off in the TSA line.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
When prospective Caltech students applied in the fall for early admission, some faced a new, technologically advanced step in the selection process at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for step-in
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Noun
Unlike the shoes of the 80s, which required several runs to break in stiff materials and mold to your feet, today’s shoes feel plush and comfortable on step-in.
—Jonathan Beverly, Outside, 26 Dec. 2025
The easy step-in style, which makes these a great pick for slipping on and off in the TSA line.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
States step in One of the clearest signals from 2026 is that states are no longer waiting for Congress to act on tech regulation.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026
When prospective Caltech students applied in the fall for early admission, some faced a new, technologically advanced step in the selection process at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
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 7 Jan. 2026.
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