steward

1 of 2

noun

stew·​ard ˈstü-ərd 

ˈstyü-;

ˈst(y)u̇rd

1

: one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns (such as the supervision of servants, collection of rents, and keeping of accounts)

2

: shop steward

3

: a fiscal agent

4

a

: an employee on a ship, airplane, bus, or train who manages the provisioning of food and attends passengers

b

: one appointed to supervise the provision and distribution of food and drink in an institution

5

: one who actively directs affairs : manager

steward

2 of 2

verb

stewarded; stewarding; stewards

transitive verb

: to act as a steward for : manage

intransitive verb

: to perform the duties of a steward

Synonyms of steward

Noun

• servant

Verb

• oversee
• supervise
• manage
• operate
• control
• handle
• conduct
• regulate
• govern
• run

Examples of steward in a Sentence

Noun

the steward of their investments

teaching our children to be good stewards of the land

the steward of the estate

The race stewards are reviewing the results.

Verb

will steward the city's library programs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On a cycling adventure in Tanzania's Singita Grumeti Reserve, Tom Vanderbilt finds that going by two wheels brings him closer to the land and the stewards who protect it. —Tom Vanderbilt, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026

The staff, all locals, were stewards of the jungle first, hospitality workers second—turning a simple walk to breakfast into a masterclass on foraging and rainfall patterns. —Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026

Verb

The grant will support an independent nonprofit to steward the Historic Northside District community’s work and eventually replace the Hispanic Chamber to lead the efforts. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2026

But the press office, which stewards the bank’s image, was not on board. —Todd Gillespie, Bloomberg, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English stīweard, from stī, stig hall, sty + weard ward — more at sty, ward

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1621, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing steward

• shop steward
• wine steward

Rhymes for steward

• skewered

Kids Definition

steward

noun

stew·​ard

ˈst(y)ü-ərd, 

ˈst(y)u̇(-ə)rd

1

: a manager of a large home, estate, or organization

2

: a person employed to manage the supply and distribution of food and attend the needs of passengers (as on a train, airplane, or ship)

Etymology

Noun

Old English stīweard, literally, "keeper of the hall, keeper of the sty," from stī "hall, sty" and weard "ward, guard, keeper"

Legal Definition

steward

noun

stew·​ard

: shop steward