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
stepping in
verb
1
as in visiting
to make a brief visit I just stepped in to say hi on my way to class Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- visiting
- coming over
- running in
- dropping in
- dropping by
- coming by
- running (over)
- stopping (by or in)
- popping (in)
- calling
- looking up
- seeing
- barging (in)
- happening (by)
- bopping (into)
- hanging (at)
- haunting
- resorting (to)
- frequenting
2
as in standing 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
- standing in
- filling in
- substituting
- taking over
- spelling
- covering
- subbing
- pinch-hitting
- understudying
- doubling (as)
- relieving