stepping in

present participle of step in
1
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 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 As Bay Area art schools flounder under financial strain, Silicon Valley is increasingly stepping in as an influential force in the region’s cultural landscape. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026 Jobs are shifting from operating software to managing a hybrid workforce of humans and agents—setting goals, validating outputs, and stepping in when judgment is required. Girija Krishnamurthy, Forbes.com, 22 July 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepping in
Verb
  • The southern Sinai peninsula is a popular tourist destination, with many travelers visiting the region to snorkel and dive in the Red Sea, the outlet reported.
    Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Poul Thorsen, a research investigator who was working as a visiting scientist at the CDC, was extradited to the United States following 11 years avoiding capture in Denmark, according to federal prosecutors.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • It’s mainly centered on Billie, who is worried about an old Facebook post standing in the way of finding a job.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Seven dogs surrounded and attacked a Charlotte woman standing in her yard, and three additional people were hurt while trying to help her, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In a dash camera video shared by police, an officer can be seen stepping out quickly from a patrol vehicle as Ross was seen running in the street.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Phil Foden did not quite hit the ground running in pre-season, which does present an opportunity for Rayan Cherki to cement a place in the XI for the big kick-off.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • It can be made year-round, substituting in whatever fruit is available, ripe and delicious.
    Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • His character Ned Schneebly was supposed to be substituting — until Dewey impersonated him and stepped in.
    Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The two families maintain a good relationship to this day, as evidenced by Trent Hagen coming over to ask his father about an order of frozen treats for a charitable event one of the Merlinos was hosting that day.
    Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The 31-year-old left-hander has been one of the best starters for Los Angeles since coming over from Toronto on May 17.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • LaNeve, who is filling in as the Army’s top uniformed officer, recently ordered the battalion to refocus on its core mission of being an airborne infantry unit.
    Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Jelly Roll shared his thoughts on Dolly Parton while filling in as guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Players will have months to contemplate their futures in golf while dropping in on the odd European tour or Asian Tour event.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Mladic first led a Serb insurgency in Croatia before taking over the Bosnian Serb army that was backed by Serbia and then-President Slobodan Milosevic, who also died in the custody of the Hague court in 2006 while on trial for genocide.
    Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Many believe that the dynamic duo taking over the reins have the energy and training to take the company into the future.
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stepping in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepping%20in. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!