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1

steep

play
adjective \ˈstēp\

Definition of steep

  1. 1 :  lofty, high —used chiefly of a sea

  2. 2 :  making a large angle with the plane of the horizon

  3. 3a :  mounting or falling precipitously the stairs were very steepb :  being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase

  4. 4 :  extremely or excessively high steep prices

steepish

play \ˈstē-pish\ adjective

steeply

adverb

steepness

noun

See steep defined for English-language learners

See steep defined for kids

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Examples of steep in a Sentence

  1. The stairs are very steep.

  2. a steep drop in prices

  3. The store's prices are too steep for me.

  4. Their rates are pretty steep.

Origin and Etymology of steep

Middle English stepe, from Old English stēap high, steep, deep; akin to Old Frisian stāp steep, Middle High German stief — more at stoop

steep Synonyms

Synonyms
abrupt, bold, precipitous, sheer
Antonyms
easy
Related Words
perpendicular, plumb, straight, vertical; craggy, hillocky, hilly, mountainous, scarped; angled, canted, cocked, heeled, inclined, listed, slanted, sloped, tilted, tipped
Near Antonyms
gentle, gradual, moderate, soft; even, flat, flush, horizontal, level, plane, smooth, unruffled, unwrinkled

Synonym Discussion of steep

steep, abrupt, precipitous, sheer mean having an incline approaching the perpendicular. steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult. a steep hill a steep dive abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level. a beach with an abrupt drop-off precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical. the river winds through a precipitous gorge sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse. sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers
2

steep

noun

Definition of steep

  1. :  a precipitous place

First Known Use of steep

1555

3

steep

verb

Definition of steep

  1. transitive verb

  2. 1 :  to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence)

  3. 2 :  to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking)

  4. 3 :  to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence) practices steeped in tradition

  5. intransitive verb

  6. :  to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid

steeper

noun

See steep defined for English-language learners

Examples of steep in a Sentence

  1. Steep the tea for three minutes.

  2. The tea steeped for five minutes.

Origin and Etymology of steep

Middle English stepen

steep Synonyms

Synonyms
endue (or indue), imbue, inculcate, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, infuse, suffuse
Antonyms
wring (out)
Related Words
animate, charge, enliven, invigorate, leaven; implant, instill, plant; impregnate, permeate, pervade, saturate; deluge, drown, fill, flood, inundate, overwhelm, submerge
Near Antonyms
deprive, divest, strip; clear, empty; eliminate, remove, take away

Synonym Discussion of steep

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid. soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing. soak the garment in soapy water saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held. a saturated sponge drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured. clothes drenched by a cloudburst steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed. steep the tea for five minutes impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another. a cake strongly impregnated with brandy
4

steep

noun

Definition of steep

  1. 1 :  the state or process of being steeped

  2. 2 :  a bath or solution in which something is steeped

First Known Use of steep

15th century

Phrases Related to STEEP

Related Phrases

STEEP Defined for English Language Learners

steep

play
adjective

Definition of steep for English Language Learners

  • : almost straight up and down : rising or falling very sharply

  • : going up or down very quickly

  • : very high

steep

verb

Definition of steep for English Language Learners

  • : to put (something) in a liquid for a period of time

STEEP Defined for Kids

1

steep

play
adjective \ˈstēp\

Definition of steep for Students

steeper

;

steepest

  1. 1 :  having a very sharp slope :  almost straight up and down a steep hill

  2. 2 :  too great or high steep prices

steeply

adverb

steepness

noun
2

steep

play
verb

Definition of steep for Students

steeped

;

steeping

  1. 1 :  to soak in a hot liquid steep tea

  2. 2 :  to fill with or involve deeply The lost mine was steeped in tragedy … — Jack London, The Call of the Wild

Learn More about steep

  1. See words that rhyme with steep Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for steep Spanish Central: Translation of steep Nglish: Translation of steep for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of steep for Arabic speakers

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Examples: steep in a Sentence
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