1
as in visits
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 substitutes
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 steps in
Colman Domingo plays stern patriarch Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays matriarch Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller steps in as attorney/advisor John Branca, and Larenz Tate brings Motown mogul Berry Gordy to life.
—
Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Another peptide, hexapeptide-11, steps in as a protective shield, slowing the breakdown of your natural HA so those moisture levels stay high over time.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 30 Oct. 2025
In one frightening scene, Springsteen steps in and hits his dad with a baseball bat in an effort to protect his mom.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
That’s when battery storage steps in, offsetting the need to use older, less efficient, and more costly resources to keep homes powered and costs stable.
—Erin Smith, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Then an engineer steps in and returns the towel to a crumpled heap, and the sequence begins again.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
After taking steps in his defensive game last season, Matthews continued to track back and make decisive plays with his stick while defending.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
For instance, aim to walk 2,000 steps in the morning, 2,000 on your lunch break, and the remaining in the evening.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Eliminating window portholes can also reduce steps in the construction process, which the company says should help lower manufacturing costs.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025
Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Another peptide, hexapeptide-11, steps in as a protective shield, slowing the breakdown of your natural HA so those moisture levels stay high over time.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 30 Oct. 2025
In one frightening scene, Springsteen steps in and hits his dad with a baseball bat in an effort to protect his mom.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
That’s when battery storage steps in, offsetting the need to use older, less efficient, and more costly resources to keep homes powered and costs stable.
—Erin Smith, Boston Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Then an engineer steps in and returns the towel to a crumpled heap, and the sequence begins again.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
After taking steps in his defensive game last season, Matthews continued to track back and make decisive plays with his stick while defending.
—Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
For instance, aim to walk 2,000 steps in the morning, 2,000 on your lunch break, and the remaining in the evening.
—Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Eliminating window portholes can also reduce steps in the construction process, which the company says should help lower manufacturing costs.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steps in
Verb
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That will be put to the test in the Big 12 when Brigham Young visits Texas Tech.—
Jordan Mendoza,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Ohio State visits Purdue next week.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For some, the social capital of friends, community groups, and online donors now substitutes for financial capital.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Motorists caught off guard by sudden drops in visibility may not have enough time to react, raising the stakes for driver and pedestrian safety statewide.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Anime features tend to be front-loaded with big debuts followed by substantial drops in subsequent weekends.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If Gala stands in for both feminism and fun, Lane’s realization suggests a growing understanding that women—and everyone else, presumably—need both in order to be whole.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
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Running experiments before the running of the bulls Zuriguel stands in the heart of Pamplona in a plaza a bit smaller than the area of an Olympic swimming pool.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In addition to Part D, people who opt for traditional Medicare also usually pay for supplemental coverage, known as Medigap coverage, which fills in some of the services left out of Medicare coverage.—
Suzanne King,
Kansas City Star,
21 Oct. 2025
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Tom, by contrast, argues for a more imaginative reconstruction of what has been lost, the kind of history that fills in silences.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those who had VenApp before August 2024 can access it on their smartphones, and the government also created and sponsored a mobile version that runs in browsers.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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On Tuesday, Betts had one hit in four tries – a little-and-late single with the Dodgers trailing by five runs in the eighth inning in a 6-2 Game 4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, who wound up doubling up Betts at second base one batter later.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Still in its early stages, Montgomery Steppe’s proposal calls for free medical care, including prescription drugs, to be provided to people who lose Medi-Cal benefits or face ineligibility under new rules for Medicaid.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
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Trump calls Mamdani a communist and said the federal government can’t afford to throw good money after bad if he is elected.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steps in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steps%20in. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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