step in

verb

To act as a replacement or substitute.

Similar
interveneinterfereinterposesubstitutedeputizedeputise
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Meanings

verbstep in (third-person singular simple present steps in, present participle stepping in, simple past and past participle stepped in)

present singular third person steps in · participle present stepping in · participle past stepped in · past stepped in

  1. intransitiveTo act as a replacement or substitute.

    McCoist unexpectedly ushered back a defender of his own with Kirk Broadfoot taking over from Steven Whittaker. There was, of course, another change, Kyle Bartley stepping in at centre-half to replace suspended Dorin Goian.

    2011 December 29, Keith Jackson, “SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0”, in Daily Record
  2. intransitiveTo get involved; to act.

    HM Chief Inspector of Railways has stepped in to speed up work to resolve incidents of overspeeding, having been concerned that progress on the issue has been too slow.

    2026 February 18, David Stubbings, “ORR steps in to improve industry response to overspeed incidents”, in RAIL, number 1055, page 9

Synonyms & antonyms

verbget involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force

Similar
interveneinterfereinterpose
Broader
interact

verbact as a substitute

Similar
substitutedeputizedeputise
Broader
supplantreplacesupersede
Also see
deputizeinterfereinterposeintervenestrike insubstitute

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Catalan reemplaçar, substituir
  • reemplaçarTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • substituirTo act as a replacement or substitute.
French remplacer, substituer
  • remplacerTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • substituerTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • intervenirTo get involved
German ersetzen, einspringen
  • ersetzenTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • einspringenTo act as a replacement or substitute.
Greek επεμβαίνω, παρεμβαίνω
  • επεμβαίνω (epemvaíno)To get involved
  • παρεμβαίνω (paremvaíno)To get involved
Italian rimpiazzare, intervenire
  • rimpiazzareTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • intervenireTo get involved
Portuguese substituir
  • substituirTo act as a replacement or substitute.
Spanish reemplazar, substituir
  • reemplazarTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • substituirTo act as a replacement or substitute.
  • intervenirTo get involved
  • tomar cartas en el asuntoTo get involved
Turkish araya girmek, müdahale etmek
  • araya girmekTo get involved
  • müdahale etmekTo get involved
  • el atmakTo get involved
  • karışmakTo get involved
Cite this entry
APA

step in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/step%20in

MLA

“step in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/step%20in. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “step in,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/step%20in.

Source: step in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.