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.
The church has a 92-foot green steeple, which can be seen throughout the neighborhood and from the nearby Metra station, a circular stained glass rose window, and a huge Steere and Turner organ — one of the few remaining in Chicago. Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 Three steeples visible from the Kennedy expressway. Patrycja Humienik, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 Canada’s Eastern Townships is networked with quiet roads that curve this way and that, passing vast vineyards and rich agricultural lands; placid, crystal clear lakes; and whitewashed churches bearing towering steeples. Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Thanks to a combination of county and state preservation grants, work is nearly complete: The wooden steeple that was destroyed in the fire has been replaced by a steel structure, not only to prevent another fire but also better able to withstand the coastal winds and storms. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 29 Mar. 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 1 May. 2025.

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

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