steamer

noun

steam·​er ˈstē-mər 

1

: a vessel in which articles are subjected to steam

2

a

: a ship propelled by steam

b

: an engine, machine, or vehicle operated or propelled by steam

3

: one that steams

4

: soft-shell clam

Examples of steamer in a Sentence

We rode a steamer down the Mississippi.

Recent Examples on the Web

Dixon recommends a handheld steamer as an alternative. —Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026

Not everyone wants to travel with a portable steamer or trust notoriously finicky hotel irons to smooth out their clothing, so investing in wrinkle-free materials from the jump is a great way to cut down the obstacles between you and a day out enjoying your vacation. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026

The first was built in 1845 and was a wooden steamer that saw action during the Mexican American war. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026

In sync with American tastes, there’s an apartment-sized amount of space and an armory of amenities, including an industrial-speed hairdryer and a clothes steamer for any emergency de-crinkling. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing steamer

• steamer rug
• steamer trunk

Rhymes for steamer

• beamer
• creamer
• dreamer
• femur
• lemur
• reamer
• schemer
• streamer
• redeemer

Kids Definition

steamer

noun

steam·​er ˈstē-mər 

1

: a container in which something is steamed

2

a

: a ship driven by steam

b

: an engine, machine, or vehicle run by steam