steed

noun

plural steeds
literary or humorous
: a horse used or trained for riding : a spirited horse
The act opens with a princess on a white steed prancing about the ring.Howard G. Chua-Eoan
A 14th-century silk scroll elegantly depicts an elite … warrior brandishing a sword from his steed.Smithsonian
Think of him [Napoléon Bonaparte] in [Jacques-Louis] David's portrait astride a fiery steed while he points his lance at the Alps.Letitia Grierson
In front of a corral of horses, we meet our designated wranglers, who match us up with a user-friendly steed.Roberta Grant
sometimes used figuratively for something (such as a bicycle or an automobile) being likened to a horse
… an offseason of building new cars or getting their trusty old steed out of the barn … came down to this one moment. Race time.Mark Kane
Once on your faithful steed, you can cycle pretty much anywhere alongside Amsterdam's famous canals …Helen Coffey

Examples of steed in a Sentence

a brave knight and his noble steed the knight mounted his trusty steed
Recent Examples on the Web Phoenix plays the titular French emperor, with Kirby as his wife, Josephine, in Ridley Scott’s action epic — the trailer boasts cannon fire, charging white steeds, swords, smoke and open revolution in the streets — as filtered through the misty lens of a love story. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023 Diamond told Express in 2012 that McNeil even bonded with the late Queen Elizabeth II over her love for steeds after the singer was invited to perform at the annual Royal Variety Show. Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 7 Oct. 2023 In another, the 818 Tequila founder stands out in an entirely red ensemble, wearing the brand’s Moulded Waist Double-Breasted Blazer and Split Front A-Line Skirt as several of the stark-white steeds gallop in circles around her. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2023 Beside him stood a toy horse and a selection of gaudy sombreros for children to wear astride the spotted steed. Christopher Sherman, ajc, 25 June 2023 Some might see them as an escape from the everyday humdrum of life, while professional riders see their steeds as purebred racing machines with enough horsepower to blow their arms off. Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 21 June 2023 The top lot was Andy Warhol’s Diana Vreeland Rampant (after Jacques Louis David, Napoleon at St. Bernard), a red-hued screen print that depicts Vreeland—the famous fashion editor who mentored Talley to stardom—atop a steed. Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 17 Feb. 2023 From there, Sweeney, 55, a former 2:30 marathoner from Leadville, and his steed held the lead to the end amid a tight three-team race that ended in a close finish with Macy and Sugar Ray crossing the line in the runner-up position a few seconds ahead of Sandoval and Buttercup. Brian Metzler, Outside Online, 16 Aug. 2022 Buckingham Palace previously announced that today's team of Windsor Grey steeds are named Icon, Shadow, Milford Haven, Newark, Echo, Knightsbridge, Meg and Tyrone. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stede, from Old English stēda stallion; akin to Old English stōd stud — more at stud

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of steed was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near steed

Cite this Entry

“Steed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steed. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

steed

noun
: horse entry 1 sense 1a
especially : a lively horse

More from Merriam-Webster on steed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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