Thesaurus results for STEPPING IN

stepping in

verb

present participle of step in

as in visiting

to make a brief visit I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Historians, scholars and philosophers are stepping in to offer some solutions and warnings. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 The tension follows the women to Courtney’s event celebrating her husband’s birthday, where the real entertainment for the evening was Tia and Gizelle lacing stepping in the ring. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026 If parents are constantly stepping in to soothe or explain, the thinking goes, kids may not learn to manage their feelings or tolerate discomfort. — Alex Vance, Parents, 25 Oct. 2026 Tarantino wrote the script for Cliff Booth, with David Fincher stepping in to direct this time around. — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2026 While stepping in as press secretary, Vance responded to a question from the Washington Examiner about 2028 hopefuls, such as Cruz and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, by telling Republicans to focus on the midterm elections. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2026 Whenever either of them is absent, Estevao is very capable of stepping in. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Now, the Gates Foundation is stepping in to help fund scientific research through an historic $540 million gift to The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent research organization at the University of Washington. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Even when the play returns to the familiar rhythm of Shaw provoking Dreyfuss and Scheider stepping in to restore peace, the performances keep the interactions engaging. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping in

Verb

Lionel Messi scored his MLS-leading 26th goal in the 83rd minute to lift visiting Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Sunday night that has major playoff seeding implications.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
This week, with Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels visiting Rentschler Field for a Noon kickoff on Saturday, will be an entirely different game plan.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of visiting

Verb

Watson lived there with his sister and was standing in the doorway, Cantrell said.

— Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
The attack ads that exaggerate and lie about their opponents, without mentioning their myopic support for their dear leader whose baggage has destroyed America’s standing in the world, are astounding.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of standing in

Verb

National election night coverage from NBC News played on a big screen at the venue, and some early-arriving guests cheered when early results showed Democrats running in other states leading in their respective races.

— Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Some right-wing commentators online claimed the issue was a sign of fraud, but both the Republican and Democrat running in the district told voters not to be deterred.

— Miles Parks, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of running in

Verb

For the dirt topping, feel free to follow your imagination and taste, substituting or replacing any of the ingredients with your favorite chocolate cookies or treats while still keeping the visual appearance of a varied, crumbly soil.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
His reverence for her motherhood — which the film avoids asking her about, substituting discussion with endless visuals of her breastfeeding and swinging her children through the waves — echoes the themes of season one.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of substituting

Verb

The Latino political firsts kept coming over the next 20 years, now reaching a pinnacle with Becerra’s win.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
In terms of transfer players, the team will have point guard Acaden Lewis coming over from Villanova.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of coming over

Verb

Kingston, a sixth-round pick of the 49ers in 2024, played well filling in for Saviianaea in the second half of the Bengals game.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
In addition to filling in Balaban’s gaps with a tedious litany of mathematical steps, the agents also made some genuine innovations.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of filling in

Verb

There are some who plan to partake in all three days, others who will be dropping in for one night only.

— Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
The 36-year-old Hubble is also dropping in orbit because of all the sun's recent outbursts and is expected to reenter the atmosphere in the 2030s if nothing is done.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of dropping in

Verb

The winner will replace outgoing Treasurer Fiona Ma, taking over an office responsible for managing the state's investments, public borrowing and financing programs.

— Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
But the state sued to stop the district from taking over, and a court sided with the state late in 2024.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026