English verb: step in | |||
1. | step in (social) get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force | ||
Samples | Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?. | ||
Synonyms | interfere, interpose, intervene | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | interact | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | interlope, meddle, tamper | ||
2. | step in (social) act as a substitute | ||
Samples | She stood in for the soprano who suffered from a cold. | ||
Synonyms | deputise, deputize, substitute | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | replace, supercede, supersede, supervene upon, supplant | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | cover | ||