1
as in visiting
to make a brief visit
I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in standing in
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stepping in
South Korea, too, is stepping in to fill the gap in Western inventories.
—
Chris Oberoi,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
With David ultimately stepping in as director, his family saw it through.
—
ABC News,
20 May 2026
As travelers across the country look for low-cost flights following the shuttering of Spirit Airlines, one airline is stepping in to fill the void in the Pittsburgh area.
—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Tell me about Cineverse stepping in to re-release Pan’s Labyrinth.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
The sector boomed in the years after the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, with private credit funds and other alternative investment vehicles stepping in to fill the lending gap created by the withdrawal of investment banks from riskier parts of the debt market.
—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Jonathan Groff was the original star of a production that had many top-tier talents stepping in at different phases of the production’s elaborate run.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Robertson grounds both versions of Niall in a sad-eyed misery, with Bell stepping in and giving the character grace notes of humor that don’t always seem to fit the story.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Anthony Volpe Suffered a Shoulder Injury Volpe was missing from the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in March 2026, with José Caballero stepping in as the starting shortstop.
—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Chris Oberoi,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
With David ultimately stepping in as director, his family saw it through.
—
ABC News,
20 May 2026
As travelers across the country look for low-cost flights following the shuttering of Spirit Airlines, one airline is stepping in to fill the void in the Pittsburgh area.
—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Tell me about Cineverse stepping in to re-release Pan’s Labyrinth.
—
Anthony D'alessandro,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
The sector boomed in the years after the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, with private credit funds and other alternative investment vehicles stepping in to fill the lending gap created by the withdrawal of investment banks from riskier parts of the debt market.
—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Jonathan Groff was the original star of a production that had many top-tier talents stepping in at different phases of the production’s elaborate run.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Robertson grounds both versions of Niall in a sad-eyed misery, with Bell stepping in and giving the character grace notes of humor that don’t always seem to fit the story.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Anthony Volpe Suffered a Shoulder Injury Volpe was missing from the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in March 2026, with José Caballero stepping in as the starting shortstop.
—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping in
Verb
-
However, some soccer fans seems rather content with experiencing average American life, visiting fast food joints, spotting yellow school busses and going crazy for ranch sauce, according to reports.
-
Despite their differences, the Tennessee natives were close friends, with Presley often visiting Boone at his Beverly Hills home.
Verb
-
Cost per wear does the same job for clothing, with one wear standing in for the ounce.
-
Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez was allegedly operating the unmanned drone on June 12 in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park during the 2026 FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta while standing in a nearby parking area and recording video of the event, federal prosecutors said.
Verb
-
In February, the party’s governing body blocked Burnham from running in another by-election.
-
Maasdam and Brink are running in.
Verb
-
Although research results are mixed, some studies show that substituting other fats in the diet with avocados may result in significant reductions in triglyceride levels.
-
That creates the risk of symbolic legislation substituting for meaningful governance.
Verb
-
Randle is a productive and skilled player who embraced being in Minnesota after coming over in the trade from New York.
-
Here's everything coming over the next seven days.
Verb
-
Iqnatural Jamaican Black Castor Oil, my go-to for filling in my thinning edges, is on sale for $10 during Amazon Prime Day.
-
Juicy blueberries burst during baking, melding with the fresh peach juices for a gorgeous, saucy filling in this pie.
Verb
-
While the world’s oceans have generally been heating up, one patch of the Atlantic located south of Greenland has been dropping in temperature.
-
And then, her par putt on 18 – measured at 2 feet, 10 inches – spun tantalizingly around the rim of the cup before dropping in and ending the suspense.
Verb
-
That has been a top priority for Sharma since taking over as chief executive of Xbox in February, an appointment that surprised some industry insiders because of her non-gaming background and previous role leading AI initiatives for the 51-year-old tech giant.
-
That move was bigger than a warehouse transaction, with Stord taking over Quiet’s former customer base and many employees moving over to the fulfillment provider.
Cite this Entry
“Stepping in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20in. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
