under its own steam
idiom
of a ship, boat, etc.
: by using its own power or efforts
The ship was damaged but was able to return to port under its own steam.
—often used figurativelyHe became a success under his own steam.
Examples of under its own steam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1981: The John Bull locomotive, built by Robert Stephenson and Company, became the oldest functioning steam locomotive when the Smithsonian Institution ran it under its own steam.
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The Arizona Republic, 15 Sep. 2024
Kyle and co say their design is the first bipedal walking robot to contain of this simplicity that can start and stop under its own steam, walk in a straight line or steer.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023
Unfortunately, that kind of excitement rarely translates to the telecast, which moves under its own steam of imperfect scripting interrupted by moments of hope.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022
There’s also just the fact that Covid hit at a moment when this explosion of streamers, including Disney+, was underway and accelerating under its own steam.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021
China under its own steam is already collecting and in some cases pilfering troves of data world-wide.
—Claudia Rosett, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2020
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The Arizona Republic, 15 Sep. 2024
Kyle and co say their design is the first bipedal walking robot to contain of this simplicity that can start and stop under its own steam, walk in a straight line or steer.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023
Unfortunately, that kind of excitement rarely translates to the telecast, which moves under its own steam of imperfect scripting interrupted by moments of hope.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022
There’s also just the fact that Covid hit at a moment when this explosion of streamers, including Disney+, was underway and accelerating under its own steam.
—Simon Thompson, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021
China under its own steam is already collecting and in some cases pilfering troves of data world-wide.
—Claudia Rosett, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Under its own steam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/under%20its%20own%20steam. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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