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

Made from lightweight, stretchy nylon and spandex fabric, it can be worn right out of your suitcase without having to break out a steamer. — Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

Its knit fabric never requires an iron or steamer, and it’s held up through countless washes without pilling despite my lackadaisical approach to laundry. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

The Wilderness Legacy, which was completed in 1984 and is a replica of turn-of-the-century coastal steamers complete with Victorian-style wood cabinetry, was the first to respond. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026

In 1887, the Lucinda Van Valkenburg was struck by a steamer and sank, though for a while the masts remained standing high out of the water and were an obstruction to other ships. — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 10 Aug. 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