1
as in visited
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 substituted
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 stepped in
To the crowd’s disappointment, Kastelic lost his balance before any real shots were thrown and the linesmen stepped in to end it.
—
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
That's when Mitchell stepped in, beginning volunteer work at the school.
—Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
China had offered to build an infrastructure for Greenland, including improving the airport, until Denmark stepped in and offered airport funding.
—Steven Lamy, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Herrick stepped in to keep the prop from making it to the audience and was ultimately bounced back, landing on his back.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
A number of states have stepped in to cover the gap, or to provide additional money to food banks; Texas, which has a multibillion-dollar rainy-day fund, has done neither.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
And Sam stepped in there and made a good throw.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
But on the first play of the series, Virginia’s Kam Robinson stepped in front of a Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass and returned it to the house.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
During a 2020 interview with DJ VLAD, Mack 10 rehashed the near-altercation with Common and reiterated that Fat Joe stepped in to smooth things over.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
That's when Mitchell stepped in, beginning volunteer work at the school.
—Brad Hamilton, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
China had offered to build an infrastructure for Greenland, including improving the airport, until Denmark stepped in and offered airport funding.
—Steven Lamy, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026
Herrick stepped in to keep the prop from making it to the audience and was ultimately bounced back, landing on his back.
—Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
A number of states have stepped in to cover the gap, or to provide additional money to food banks; Texas, which has a multibillion-dollar rainy-day fund, has done neither.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2025
And Sam stepped in there and made a good throw.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
But on the first play of the series, Virginia’s Kam Robinson stepped in front of a Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele pass and returned it to the house.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
During a 2020 interview with DJ VLAD, Mack 10 rehashed the near-altercation with Common and reiterated that Fat Joe stepped in to smooth things over.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped in
Verb
-
On average, each cruise passenger visited four Norwegian ports during a single voyage.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Huang visited mainland China at least three times last year, including in January for Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In their place, Cash has substituted a constellation of witty concepts that fall somewhere between a creative branding exercise and a Christopher Guest-like parody of small-town dysfunction.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
-
But sometimes that’s substituted for a better football player.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The relatively light impact locally stood in contrast to widespread airline warnings issued nationwide.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Regina stood in front of the window overlooking the void that plunged down to the courtyard below, beyond the balcony railing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The stock dropped in October after the company upped its spending guidance, and CFO Amy Hood said capex growth in 2026 would mark an increase from 2025, after previously saying that growth would slow.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Vaccination rates for measles have dropped in recent years, with many areas falling below the herd immunity threshold experts say is necessary to keep the disease from circulating.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Besides Castrejon, there’s Nathan Medina, who has eight goals, and Nathan Vargas, a backup goalie who has filled in well while the starter was sick.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Harris reports that only about 39% of available geriatric fellowship positions were filled in 2025.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hostetler took over for Phil Simms with two weeks remaining in the 1990 season, fire alarms blaring.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Jerry Mack, a former NFL assistant and head coach at North Carolina Central, took over for Brian Bohannon and things instantly looked better in a 10-9 season-opening loss at Wake Forest.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ferrandino said the state has closed seven prisons over the last 15 years, as Colorado's prison population has dropped by nearly 6,000 inmates.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Futures open interest has dropped by 40% from its peak.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Harrison, who in 2020 ran in the Democratic primary for her Nebraska congressional district, sees an immediate impact on her business and the broader economy.—
Caitlyn Reilly,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The show, which ran in two six-part series, in 1975 and 1979, was a huge hit in Britain and went on to become a cult classic in the United States.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepped in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20in. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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