1
as in to visit
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 to substitute
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.
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Recent Examples of step in
An Italian organization, Blue Tyre, had stepped in to pay some expenses, such as fuel and basic equipment.
—
Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 Jan. 2025
But the bills have to survive several steps in the legislative process to come to fruition.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2025
Private insurers might step in with supplemental policies, but there's no guarantee.
—Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
One step in her normal daily routine was eating oatmeal, according to Dr. Mike Sevilla, a family physician at Salem Family Care in Salem, Ohio.
—Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for step in 
Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 Jan. 2025
But the bills have to survive several steps in the legislative process to come to fruition.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2025
Private insurers might step in with supplemental policies, but there's no guarantee.
—Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
One step in her normal daily routine was eating oatmeal, according to Dr. Mike Sevilla, a family physician at Salem Family Care in Salem, Ohio.
—Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for step in
Recent Examples of Synonyms for step in
Verb
-
Both experts recommend considering the city’s many festivals when deciding when to visit.—
Jessica Macdonald,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Senators At least seven of the 52 Republican Senators have made the trip from their home states and D.C. offices to visit Mar-a-Lago.—
Zach Everson,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In some cases, those in power manage to substitute kleptocracy and state violence for administration; for instance, in Venezuela, where first Hugo Chávez and then Nicolás Maduro destroyed a prosperous and functioning state.—
Russell Muirhead,
Foreign Affairs,
23 Jan. 2025
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Even more significant, substituting fish was associated with a 28% lower risk and chicken with a 16% lower risk of dementia.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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A day care provider is accused of making a child stand in an alley in freezing temperatures as punishment, Illinois police said.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2025
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Costco’s stance on DEI stands in contrast to some other major corporations that have scaled back such initiatives, including Walmart, McDonald’s, Google, Meta, Zoom, Ford (F-0.39%), and John Deere (DE).—
Francisco Velasquez,
Quartz,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As Thibodeau will attest, aggression like this doesn’t work without teammates who can fill in the gaps, as Hart does here.—
Fred Katz,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
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Luckily, there’s more than enough going on in the world outside the comic book pages to allow readers to fill in their own subtext.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien will end its run in syndication in August, as the Hearst public affairs show concludes a decade-long run.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2025
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The two had a five-week run in the summer of 2023 and returned for eight weeks in 2024.—
Lisa Lockwood,
WWD,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Those in need of shelter from the cold can call 211 to check availability of beds.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2023
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Their children’s schoolmates call the sisters the Puffling Queens.—
Cheryl Katz,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Feb. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near step in
Cite this Entry
“Step in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20in. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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