steppe

noun

ˈstep 

1

: one of the vast usually level and treeless tracts in southeastern Europe or Asia

2

: arid land with xerophilous vegetation found usually in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil

Synonyms of steppe

• prairie
• plain
• grassland
• savanna
• pampa

Examples of steppe in a Sentence

nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia

Recent Examples on the Web

The desire to see Russia as singularly the product of its steppe heritage ends up distorting and simplifying this history. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

The unification of the Eurasian steppes under Genghis Khan and his successors—Ögödei, Möngke, and Kublai Khan—brought many of these trade routes under a single political authority for the first time. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026

With its views of a stratovolcano, glaciers, old-growth forests, alpine habitats, and a mix of mountain and steppe landscapes, the Chinook Scenic Byway more than fulfills that brief. — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026

See dinosaur bones at Flaming Cliffs, ride Mongolian horses across the steppe, stargaze with the on-property astronomer and stay in the luxurious Three Camel Lodge. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Russian step'

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for steppe

• cep
• hep
• pep
• prep
• rep
• sep
• step
• strep
• yep
• bicep
• doorstep
• footstep

Kids Definition

steppe

noun

ˈstep 

: land in regions of wide temperature range (as in southeastern Europe and parts of Asia) that is dry, usually rather level, and covered with grass