: an article of clothing put on by being stepped into: such as
a
: a shoe resembling but usually having a higher vamp than a pump and having concealed elastic to adjust the fit
b
: short panties for women
—usually used in plural
step-in
adjective
stepped in; stepping in; steps in
1
a
: to intervene in an affair or dispute
b
: to act as a replacement
2
: to make a brief informal visit
Examples of step-in in a Sentence
Verb
I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class.
couldn't find anyone to step in for me so that I could take a break from my caregiving duties
Recent Examples on the Web
Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Its step-in design is easy to put on and take off and the snap closure only adds to the convenience.
—Jené Luciani Sena
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025
Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Stripping away these lipids and allergenic proteins is the first step in creating the empty capsules for drug delivery that Csaba seeks.
—Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-in
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The question remains, can Gen Z workers step-in to fill all of this bubbling construction demand?
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Its step-in design is easy to put on and take off and the snap closure only adds to the convenience.
—Jené Luciani Sena
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
Meeting these expectations has put real strain on automotive retail, challenging dealers to know when to rely on intelligent tools—and when to step in with human expertise.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Stripping away these lipids and allergenic proteins is the first step in creating the empty capsules for drug delivery that Csaba seeks.
—Sandy Ong, JSTOR Daily, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for step-in
Cite this Entry
“Step-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step-in. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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