1
as in to visit
to make a brief visit
I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to substitute
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only
couldn't find anyone to step in for me so that I could take a break from my caregiving duties
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of step in
The city terminated the contract last year, with officials stepping in to take direct control as the city worked to rebuild its management structure.
—
Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Colored denim is stepping in as the season’s freshest wardrobe update.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026
The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Understanding your personal withdrawal rate is the first step in stress-testing your plan against a major market shock.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for step in
Aria Jones, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Colored denim is stepping in as the season’s freshest wardrobe update.
—Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026
The first step in honing this mindset is to figure out your starting point, Chopra says.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Understanding your personal withdrawal rate is the first step in stress-testing your plan against a major market shock.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for step in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step in
Verb
-
Plan a stop in bustling Cebu City to visit the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu and Magellan’s Cross Pavilion—cultural cornerstones that paved the way to the propagation of Christianity as the country’s most dominant religion.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Royals partied in the visiting clubhouse at Atlanta.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One way to do both is to occasionally substitute tofu, a nutritious curd made from mashed soybeans, for meat in your weekly menu.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The court found the authority had exceeded its authority by substituting its view of the public interest for that of the state Legislature.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The machine stood in its own room, looking stark and alone.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The resort stands in a prime oceanfront position on the southern edge of pretty San José del Cabo, just a 20 minutes’ drive from Los Cabos International Airport and 5 minutes from the artsy town center itself.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the Indian Land panhandle continues to fill in, transitioning once rural farmland into a bustling community, more new homes than ever are being approved in the middle and southern parts of the county.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
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He was suspended for the first two games of this past season, so assistant coach Ramses Kelly had to fill in.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Suns used a 21-2 run in the first quarter to open up a 37-17 lead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
One newcomer, right-fielder Owen Caissie, the former Chicago Cubs’ top prospect, doubled home the winning run in the second inning.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The main restaurant is an American brasserie called Lex Yard, led by chef-partner Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern, another New York institution.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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Health experts have called for new laws and better enforcement of existing regulations, and officials in many places are taking action.—
Sarah Raza,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Step in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20in. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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