steep

¹steep

adj \ˈstēp\

Definition of STEEP

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>

— steep·ish \ˈstē-pish\ adjective

— steep·ly adverb

— steep·ness noun

Examples of STEEP

1. The stairs are very steep.
2. a steep drop in prices
3. The store's prices are too steep for me.
4. Their rates are pretty steep.

Origin of STEEP

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to STEEP

Synonyms: abrupt, bold, precipitous, sheer

Antonyms: easy

Related Words: perpendicular, plumb, straight, vertical; craggy, hillocky, hilly, mountainous, scarped; angled, canted, cocked, heeled, inclined, listed, slanted, sloped, tilted, tipped

Near Antonyms: gentle, gradual, moderate, soft; even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth, unruffled, unwrinkled

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of STEEP

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>.

Rhymes with STEEP

beep, bleep, cheap, cheep, creep, deep, heap, jeep, Jeep, keep, leap, neap, neep, peep, reap, seep, sheep, sleep, sweep, threap, veep, weep