steep

1 of 4

adjective

1
: lofty, high
used chiefly of a sea
2
: making a large angle with the plane of the horizon
3
a
: mounting or falling precipitously
the stairs were very steep
b
: being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase
4
: extremely or excessively high
steep prices
steepish adjective
steeply adverb
steepness noun

steep

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a precipitous place

steep

3 of 4

verb

steeped; steeping; steeps

transitive verb

1
: to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence)
2
: to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking)
3
: to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence)
practices steeped in tradition

intransitive verb

: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid
steeper noun

steep

4 of 4

noun (2)

1
: the state or process of being steeped
2
: a bath or solution in which something is steeped
Choose the Right Synonym for steep

Adjective

steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular.

steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill
a steep dive

abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

Verb

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid.

soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.

steep the tea for five minutes

impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Examples of steep in a Sentence

Adjective The stairs are very steep. a steep drop in prices The store's prices are too steep for me. Their rates are pretty steep. Verb Steep the tea for three minutes. The tea steeped for five minutes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Hike along the Beagle Channel on the Senda Costera, or push yourself on the steep Cerro Guanaco Trail for awe-inspiring views of mountains plunging into icy waters. Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024 Rugged terrain continues to pose a challenge for fire crews trying to access steep mountainous areas. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
And while the price is a little steep for a one-bedroom in this neighborhood, a two-bedroom in the building has already sold for over $1 million. Kim Velsey, Curbed, 29 Oct. 2024 Freeride-mode locks in the ankle for straight-lining steeps and tackling technical faces, while surf-mode frees up range of motion for slaying side hits and flowy pow days. Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 11 Oct. 2024
Verb
Between the lines: There are a bunch of fancy hotel teas with high prices to match — especially around the holidays — though more casual places are steeping it up. Anna Spiegel, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024 In practice, most make weak and inconsistent coffee even after a full day of steeping. Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for steep 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English stepe, from Old English stēap high, steep, deep; akin to Old Frisian stāp steep, Middle High German stief — more at stoop

Verb

Middle English stepen

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of steep was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near steep

Cite this Entry

“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steep. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

steep

1 of 3 adjective
1
: having a very sharp slope : almost straight up-and-down
2
: being or characterized by a very rapid decline or increase
3
: too great or high
steep prices
steeply adverb

steep

2 of 3 noun
: a sharply sloping place

steep

3 of 3 verb
1
a
: to soak in liquid (as for drawing out a flavor) at a temperature under the boiling point
steep tea
b
: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid
2
: to fill with or involve deeply
steeped in learning

More from Merriam-Webster on steep

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