step-in
1 of 2noun
ˈstep-ˌin 
: 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
step in
2 of 2verb
stepped in; stepping in; steps in
intransitive verb
1
a
: to intervene in an affair or dispute
b
: to act as a replacement
2
: to make a brief informal visit
Synonyms
Verb
- call
- come by
- come over
- drop by
- drop in
- pop (in)
- run (over)
- run in
- stop (by or in)
- visit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1921, in the meaning defined above
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
stepped in
verb
1
as in visited
to make a brief visit I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- visited
- dropped in
- dropped by
- ran in
- came over
- came by
- called
- popped (in)
- stopped (by or in)
- ran (over)
- saw
- looked up
- haunted
- bopped (into)
- happened (by)
- barged (in)
- hanged (at)
- resorted (to)
- frequented
- hung (at)
2
as in stood in
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
- stood in
- substituted
- filled in
- took over
- spelled
- covered
- subbed
- pinch-hit
- relieved
- understudied
- doubled (as)