1
as in visited
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 substituted
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 stepped in
The team was established as the Orlando Miracle in 1999 as a sister team to the NBA’s Orlando Magic, but Magic owner Rich DeVos had no interest in keeping the WNBA franchise and likely would have folded the organization had the Tribe not stepped in.
—
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Police say Davis waved a gun at the child before Wakefield stepped in front of his son to protect him.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Milner stepped in, helping complete paperwork, coordinating care and involving family members.
—Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Savannah Guthrie has been in the seat since 2012 and reported alongside Hoda Kotb for seven years before Craig Melvin stepped in following Kotb’s departure in 2025.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
As the stock sold off, big money stepped in.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Fast forward to the eighth inning when Willy Adames stepped in the box to face the Reds’ Connor Phillips.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
In the 1990s, as Eastern European countries emerged from communism, Americans stepped in to help build not only free markets, but also antitrust agencies that looked something like our DOJ Antitrust Division.
—Gail Slater, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
When the show returned, Guthrie was gone, and co-anchor Hoda Kotb stepped in to interview Hathaway about her upcoming movies, Mother Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 16 Apr. 2026
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Police say Davis waved a gun at the child before Wakefield stepped in front of his son to protect him.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Milner stepped in, helping complete paperwork, coordinating care and involving family members.
—Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Savannah Guthrie has been in the seat since 2012 and reported alongside Hoda Kotb for seven years before Craig Melvin stepped in following Kotb’s departure in 2025.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
As the stock sold off, big money stepped in.
—Jay Woods, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Fast forward to the eighth inning when Willy Adames stepped in the box to face the Reds’ Connor Phillips.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
In the 1990s, as Eastern European countries emerged from communism, Americans stepped in to help build not only free markets, but also antitrust agencies that looked something like our DOJ Antitrust Division.
—Gail Slater, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026
When the show returned, Guthrie was gone, and co-anchor Hoda Kotb stepped in to interview Hathaway about her upcoming movies, Mother Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
—Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped in
Verb
-
Because the games are varied on each visit, the location has already seen repeat guests since opening in March, including one family that has visited at least half a dozen times.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
George Christenson, the county clerk, said an FBI agent visited the home of the county's elections director and left a business card.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The South Korea forward was given a guard of honour by both teams when he was substituted in the second half and received a standing ovation from the crowd.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
Spain forward Nico Williams had to be substituted before halftime in Athletic Bilbao’s 1-0 loss to Valencia at home, prompting more concerns ahead of the World Cup.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
As the teens started to leave in an SUV, prosecutors said Miceli stood in the street with a handgun and fired two shots.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
Senate Democrats, with all the women dressed in white, stood in the well in defiance.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
However, two federal investigations of Polymarket were dropped in July without further action being taken.—
Ian Thomas,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
-
The criminal case against the father was dropped in October 2022, but Stimson said the damage was done.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Could there have been a nearby channel of the Nile that has since filled in?—
Geoff Emberling,
The Conversation,
19 May 2026
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Following an investigation by AMC, during which Yvette Nicole Brown filled in as host, Hardwick (@midnight) was reinstated.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Their head coach for qualifying, Steve McClaren, resigned immediately in disgrace, and Speid—a certified accountant who’s coached in Jamaica’s domestic league for more than a decade—took over.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
-
Jackson took over control of hockey operations following the team’s first trip to the final in 2024 and hired Bowman as GM that summer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The number of single-family homes available dropped by about 14% year-over-year last month, and the number of condos available dropped by 10%.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
-
The obvious guess would be country oldies, but that was done and dropped already … Go Country Gold ran on 1260 AM and one of the HD streams for a few months beginning late 2024, only to be dropped by April of 2025.—
Richard Wagoner,
Daily News,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The two sides ran in slates aligned against one another.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 May 2026
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Ken’s parents also influenced how rinks were ran in the area, the two said.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepped in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20in. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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