steeple

noun

stee·​ple ˈstē-pəl How to pronounce steeple (audio)
: a tall structure usually having a small spire at the top and surmounting a church tower
broadly : a whole church tower
steepled adjective

Illustration of steeple

Illustration of steeple

Examples of steeple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Valley Hope Foundation in Black Mountain is leading the project and will soon load the steeple onto the bed of a truck to be hauled seven miles to a warehouse. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Jan. 2026 While the 40-foot steeple of Crown Point’s oldest church lays toppled along Grant Street and East North Street, treasures found inside the 139-year-old church have found their way into new light. Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026 By 1783, the sect was calling itself the Society of Universal Friends; hundreds clamored to hear the Friend speak, and the society soon boasted multiple meetinghouses in Rhode Island and Connecticut, built in the Quaker mold, without steeples, bell towers, paintings, or murals. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 The nest boxes can be placed in a variety of structures, including barns, silos, granaries, grain elevators, and church steeples, or mounted on a free-standing pole. Sarah Bowman, IndyStar, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steeple

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stepel, from Old English stēpel tower; akin to Old English stēap steep

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Steeple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steeple. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

steeple

noun
stee·​ple ˈstē-pəl How to pronounce steeple (audio)
1
: a tall structure usually having a small spire at the top and built on top of a church tower
2
: a church tower
steepled adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on steeple

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!