steep

1 of 4

adjective

ˈstēp 

1

: lofty, high

—used chiefly of a sea

2

: making a large angle with the plane of the horizon

3

a

: mounting or falling precipitously

the stairs were very steep

b

: being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase

4

: extremely or excessively high

steep prices

steepish

ˈstē-pish 

adjective

steeply adverb

steepness noun

steep

2 of 4

noun (1)

: a precipitous place

steep

3 of 4

verb

steeped; steeping; steeps

transitive verb

1

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

2

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

3

: to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence)

practices steeped in tradition

intransitive verb

: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid

steeper noun

steep

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

: the state or process of being steeped

2

: a bath or solution in which something is steeped

Synonyms

Adjective

• mountainous
• vertical
• precipitous
• sheer
• sloped
• abrupt

Verb

• suffuse
• flood
• charge
• invest
• infuse

Choose the Right Synonym for steep

Adjective

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

Verb

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

Examples of steep in a Sentence

Adjective

The stairs are very steep.

a steep drop in prices

The store's prices are too steep for me.

Their rates are pretty steep.

Verb

Steep the tea for three minutes.

The tea steeped for five minutes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The vertiginous fall of home prices in Austin, Texas, seems to have no end in sight, according to experts who believe that steep declines are likely to continue in the coming months. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025

In addition to Tha Carter III, Wayne’s recent release Tha Carter VI drops from No. 47 to No. 124, a steep decline just a month into its run. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Noun

Baristas walk guests through the steps of brewing and pouring the tea, providing a timer for the perfect steep. —Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025

Economists have warned that early layoffs like Williams’ could be the first signs of labor market fallout from Trump’s steep (and shifting) tariffs, which have ramped up uncertainty testing the nimbleness of businesses of all sizes. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

Verb

This mystically exacting wordplay is spell-binding—fitting for a record that steeps its themes of desperation and addiction in a heady brew of alchemy and witchcraft. —Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025

But, in the Old Master paintings in which Saville had steeped herself, representations of children, especially in religious imagery, often missed something essential about their nature, and about the ways in which maternal care taxes even the most devoted. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Verb

Middle English stepen

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing steep

• steep in

Rhymes for steep

• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep
• sheep

Kids Definition

steep

1 of 3 adjective

ˈstēp 

1

: having a very sharp slope : almost straight up-and-down

2

: being or characterized by a very rapid decline or increase

3

: too great or high

steep prices

steeply adverb

steep

2 of 3 noun

: a sharply sloping place

steep

3 of 3 verb

1

a

: to soak in liquid (as for drawing out a flavor) at a temperature under the boiling point

steep tea

b

: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid

2

: to fill with or involve deeply

steeped in learning