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What is "to step in"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To step in

Step \Step\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Stepped; p. pr. & vb. n. Stepping.] [AS. st[ae]ppan; akin to OFries. steppa, D. stappen to step, stap a step, OHG. stepfen to step, G. stapfe a footstep, OHG. stapfo, G. stufe a step to step on; cf. Gr. ? to shake about, handle roughly, stamp (?). Cf. Stamp, n. & a.]

  1. To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.

  2. To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors.

  3. To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely.

    Home the swain retreats, His flock before him stepping to the fold.
    --Thomson.

  4. Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination. They are stepping almost three thousand years back into the remotest antiquity. --Pope. To step aside, to walk a little distance from the rest; to retire from company. To step forth, to move or come forth. To step in or To step into.

    1. To walk or advance into a place or state, or to advance suddenly in.

      Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
      --John v. 4.

    2. To enter for a short time; as, I just stepped into the house.

    3. To obtain possession without trouble; to enter upon easily or suddenly; as, to step into an estate. To step out.

      1. (Mil.) To increase the length, but not the rapidity, of the step, extending it to thirty-tree inches.

      2. To go out for a short distance or a short time.

        To step short (Mil.), to diminish the length or rapidity of the step according to the established rules.

Usage examples of "to step in".

The Mardukans had a tremendous reach advantage over the humans, but they were forced to step in close to hack down at the Marines' defensive barrier, and when they did, they also stepped directly into the sweep of the humans' weapons.

The Mardukans had a tremendous reach advantage over the humans, but they were forced to step in close to hack down at the Marines’.

Maybe I can make a deal to step in there and make a marriage between our families.

He confided in a low tone of voice that twice that day the ally had come so close to me that he had had to step in and stop it.

Let's just say that the conditions he's created, alone, would force the Empire to step in to repair the damage.

The last thing we need is for some camera crew to shoot news footage of a Bolo having to step in to contain a few disgruntled assholes with guns.

But she had only to step in and through the crowd before Jess's eyes shifted from his controls and met hers.

Just as Robert was going to step in, the Indian took him in his arms, and gazed tenderly into his face.

He must have an ally in the woodwork prepared to step in with enough military force to block Barrayar's wormhole exit.