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
As seasoned workers retire, the next generation is not stepping in fast enough to replace them.
—
Mark Rayfield, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Trotter’s wife, Tanya, echoes her husband’s enthusiasm and is even looking forward to stepping in the ring for some physicality, if needed.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2025
With New Mexico’s cannabis market at a crossroads, a new association is stepping in to rally businesses, push reforms, and help guide the industry’s future.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
But others did not blame the mother alone, instead criticizing the husband and even the child's aunt and grandparents for not stepping in.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Mark Rayfield, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Trotter’s wife, Tanya, echoes her husband’s enthusiasm and is even looking forward to stepping in the ring for some physicality, if needed.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2025
With New Mexico’s cannabis market at a crossroads, a new association is stepping in to rally businesses, push reforms, and help guide the industry’s future.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
But others did not blame the mother alone, instead criticizing the husband and even the child's aunt and grandparents for not stepping in.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping in
Verb
-
That sense of reiterating his faith and a fresh start were on display Sunday night as Brown registered his first two-touchdown game in four seasons to help the resurgent Chiefs beat visiting Detroit 30-17.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Building a case for foul play required showing not only that the beat at North Head had a history of anti-gay violence but that Scott might have been visiting the beat in the first place.—
Eren Orbey,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Children…who had previously not read for pleasure are standing in line at bookstores and libraries to get the next book in the series.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The only thing standing in his way is that Heiskanen tends to get the PP1 duties.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Maduro is widely believed to have lost the 2024 presidential election to rival Edmundo González, a candidate substituting Machado, yet still claimed victory.—
David Smilde,
The Conversation,
10 Oct. 2025
-
William wrote Temple out of his will, substituting his granddaughter.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Even in a game when rookie left tackle Josh Simmons was a late scratch because of an unspecified personal matter, the offensive line with Jaylon Moore filling in for Simmons was virtually seamless.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
With a constellation of eyes in the sky, forecasters could suddenly monitor conditions over oceans and remote landmasses, filling in major gaps in their models and providing an early warning system about potential storms forming far away.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, two other high-profile Republicans running in the race have raised six-figure numbers — far surpassing the 2023 gubernatorial candidate.—
Hannah Pinski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The TikTok video posted earlier this week, which amassed over 86,000 views in three days, showed Cammy two days after her injection, running in circles around the house.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mills was honored for her performance as Heather Webber on General Hospital, a role she's played since 1980 after taking over for Robin Mattson.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Xi launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign after taking over as leader of the Communist Party in 2012.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On the first power play, Buium missed the net on one chance, tried to go one-on-one with no support from his teammates and slipped coming over the blue line for a turnover and soon after missed catching a drop pass.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
From there, Ben will handle most of the build, with friends occasionally coming over to help out on special projects.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But this year Swift has a new album dropping in just a few weeks.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Republican president has repeatedly criticized both Washington and Chicago — Democratic bastions led by Black mayors — for out-of-control street crime, despite crime rates dropping in the two cities.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepping in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20in. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share