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step into

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

Go into a place or start a new job, role, or situation.

Literal meaning: To move one's foot into a space, container, or area.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To physically enter a space or location.

"She stepped into the conference room and immediately felt nervous."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To begin to occupy or take on a new role, position, or responsibility.

"After years of preparation, she was finally ready to step into the role of head surgeon."

"You are stepping into a great stream of history."

— George W. Bush, address to new CIA officers (widely cited)
Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To enter an unfamiliar, risky, or transformative situation.

"Leaving his corporate job to start a business meant stepping into the unknown."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common with abstract nouns: 'step into a role', 'step into someone's shoes', 'step into the unknown'. The phrase 'step into someone's shoes' is a fixed idiom meaning to take over their responsibilities.

Commonly used with

role shoes position room spotlight unknown

Forms

Base
step into
I/you/we/they
3rd person
steps into
he/she/it
Past simple
steped into
yesterday
Past participle
steped into
have + pp
-ing form
steping into
continuous

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Synonyms

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