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
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
Oscar winner Kim Basinger also steps in as Elena Lincoln, Christian's former lover and business partner.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
The Administration already has taken significant steps in those areas.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
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
Oscar winner Kim Basinger also steps in as Elena Lincoln, Christian's former lover and business partner.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025
The Administration already has taken significant steps in those areas.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steps in
Verb
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Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue's oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
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Collins visits hospitals around the country providing consulting services aimed at efficiency improvements and digital health.—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Oct. 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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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
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The Dutch Colonial-style home still stands in Amityville, but its address has been changed from 112 Ocean Ave.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 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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Kirby gave the Mariners four innings of one-run ball in Game 7, though that came after the Blue Jays tagged him for eight runs in Game 3, which sparked a turning point for the eventual AL champions.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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The Jays rapped out 18 hits, roughing up Seattle starter George Kirby for eight runs in four innings.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The report calls on leaders to focus on green solutions that can also improve health outcomes, and warns that political backsliding on climate commitments will only cause more harm.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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Qualcomm calls the new chips AI200 and AI250, and they’re intended for generative AI inference in data centers.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steps in.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steps%20in. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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