steam

1 of 2

noun

ˈstēm 

1

: a vapor arising from a heated substance

2

a

: the invisible vapor into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point

b

: the mist formed by the condensation on cooling of water vapor

3

a

: water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work

also : the power so generated

b

: active force : power, momentum

got there under his own steam

the project quickly gained/gathered steam

sales began to pick up steam

also : normal force

at full steam

c

: pent-up emotional tension

needed to let off a little steam

4

a

: steamer sense 2a

b

: travel by or a trip in a steamer

steam

2 of 2

verb

steamed; steaming; steams

transitive verb

1

: to give out as fumes : exhale

2

: to apply steam to

especially : to expose to the action of steam (as for softening or cooking)

intransitive verb

1

: to rise or pass off as vapor

2

: to give off steam or vapor

3

a

: to move or travel by the agency of steam

The ship steamed into port.

b

: to move or proceed with energy or force

steamed into the room shouting orders

4

: to be angry : boil

was steaming over the insult

Synonyms of steam

Verb

• storm
• boil
• burn
• rage
• foam
• shake
• fume

Examples of steam in a Sentence

Noun

Careful, the steam from the pot is hot.

The boat runs on steam.

He wiped the steam from the mirrors.

He was afraid he would run out of steam before the end of the race.

I was making good progress this morning, but now I'm starting to run out of steam.

Verb

a steaming bowl of soup

She prefers to steam carrots rather than boil them.

Their breath steamed the windows.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The hammam treatment is wonderfully thorough, and the therapists go the extra mile to ensure guests are comfortable—during my treatment, I was given an ice-cold glass of water after spending 20 minutes in the steam room. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2026

Allow the casserole to cool completely before covering, as steam can make the top soggy. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026

Verb

Instead, he was bundled off in the middle of the night to the USS Iwo Jima steaming offshore in the Caribbean and then a flight to Stewart Air National Guard Base in the Hudson Valley on his way to a New York jail cell to await his trial. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026

The extra hydration and water vapor from a steaming mug of tea help thin the mucus. —Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stem, from Old English stēam; akin to Dutch stoom steam

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing steam

• blow off steam
• full steam/speed ahead
• gain/gather steam
• head of steam
• live steam
• lose steam
• pick up steam
• steam boiler
• steam chest
• steam clean
• steam engine
• steam iron
• steam shovel
• steam table
• steam turbine
• steam up
• under its own steam

Rhymes for steam

• beam
• bream
• cream
• creme
• deem
• dream
• gleam
• meme
• ream
• scheme
• scream
• seam

Kids Definition

steam

1 of 2 noun

ˈstēm 

1

a

: the invisible vapor into which water is changed when heated to the boiling point

b

: the mist formed when water vapor cools

2

: water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work

also : the power so generated

3

a

: driving force : power

arrived under their own steam

b

: built-up tension

let off a little steam

steam

2 of 2 verb

1

: to rise or pass off as vapor

2

: to give off steam or vapor

3

: to move or travel by or as if by the power of steam

steamed up the river

4

: to be angry : boil

was steaming over the insult

5

: to expose to the action of steam (as for softening or cooking)

steamed clams