steam up
verb
steamed up; steaming up; steams up
: to make angry or excited : arouse
: to become full of or covered by steam
The bathroom mirror steamed up.
Examples of steam up in a Sentence
finding yet another mistaken charge on his hospital bill really steamed him up
Recent Examples on the Web
This is to the benefit of Calva’s Teddy and Camila Morrone’s Roxana, who steam up the screen at every opportunity.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2026
In January 1899, the American gunboat USS Wilmington set out on an expedition to Venezuela, steaming up the Orinoco River toward the country’s interior.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
On Valentine’s Day weekend, a fresh take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie is set to steam up screens.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Open for business Small business owners, builders, and homeowners are steamed up by the cumbersome and time-consuming process of receiving permits from the city.
—Larry Jacobs, Twin Cities, 15 Dec. 2025
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are gearing up to steam up the screen in a romantic comedy that promises fun twists, turns and some terribly good-looking people.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up?
—Vivek Astvansh, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
The large French doors at the back of the stage get steamed up to show how nuts things are getting outdoors.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
The two leads are irresistible and their romance steams up the screen.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
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Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2026
In January 1899, the American gunboat USS Wilmington set out on an expedition to Venezuela, steaming up the Orinoco River toward the country’s interior.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
On Valentine’s Day weekend, a fresh take on Brontë’s Wuthering Heights with Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie is set to steam up screens.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
Open for business Small business owners, builders, and homeowners are steamed up by the cumbersome and time-consuming process of receiving permits from the city.
—Larry Jacobs, Twin Cities, 15 Dec. 2025
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page are gearing up to steam up the screen in a romantic comedy that promises fun twists, turns and some terribly good-looking people.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
So why does this change have me a little, well, steamed up?
—Vivek Astvansh, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2025
The large French doors at the back of the stage get steamed up to show how nuts things are getting outdoors.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
The two leads are irresistible and their romance steams up the screen.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steam up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steam%20up. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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