steps in

Definition of steps innext
present tense third-person singular of step in
1
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

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 steps in The Boston Public Schools had already taken similar steps in January, in response to a separate $53 million budget shortfall. Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026 Under Mayor Adams, the city took meaningful steps in the right direction. Latoya Williams-Belfort, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026 That has seen the club take some unusual steps in recent months. Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026 Set an agenda for a meeting, then confirm next steps in writing so good ideas don’t get forgotten. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026 Federal workers have taken the first steps in a $32 million maintenance of the Blue Mesa Dam, the largest of three dams that were built in the 1960s to create Colorado's biggest reservoir. Logan Smith, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026 Indeed, this proliferation of formats aligns with the proliferating number of steps in consumers’ fragrance routines. Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026 Aura steps in during those quiet stretches, offering engagement instead of an empty room. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026 While the water utility doesn’t yet have an official stance on the bill, Moore said his initial impression is that the measure is taking steps in the right direction. Emily L Mahoney, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steps in
Verb
  • Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch visits the Well-Safe Protector Oil Rig at Aberdeen's South Harbour, on March 30, 2026 in Aberdeen, Scotland.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Decades into the future, a team of scientists visits in order to evaluate their progress.
    James Folta, Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Agreed, but this bill substitutes the long, painstaking and complex work of fixing California’s troubled insurance market with finger-pointing and posturing.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Rosenson said that if CRISPR is a scissor that cuts both strands of DNA, base editing is an eraser that substitutes one chemical letter, or base, in a single strand of DNA.
    David Cox, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That amounts to 3 drops in a 55-gallon barrel.
    Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 13 Apr. 2026
  • They’re usually given as drops in the mouth, not shots, WebMD said.
    Don Sweeney April 6, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On the cover photo, the artist stands in the back, in the shadows, allowing the people who shaped her project to take center stage.
    Elisa Wouk Almino Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The latter effort unintentionally stands in stark contrast to the views of prominent politicians who publicly disrespect POW bravery.
    Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • When her girls, 6 and 8, aren’t in school, a mix of summer camps and family fills in the gaps.
    Shay Castle, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Evans immediately fills in as Brock Purdy’s top pass-catching option, and more moves could come with Jauan Jennings also in free agency.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The Twins ambushed Crochet with four runs in the first inning, then knocked out Boston's ace lefty with a seven-run second.
    CBS News, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Agoura freshman pitcher Zach Partee threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Calabasas, which came back to score four runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Chargers 10-9 on Friday.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • America's oldest brewery calls Pennsylvania home.
    Nikki DeMentri, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The break clock starts when management calls it, that includes the walk across the warehouse floor.
    Rey Covarrubias Jr, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Steps in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steps%20in. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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