Steep Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Published on September 11, 2025
Steep refers to having a sharp inclination; rising or falling sharply, not gradual. e.g., The trail became steep and challenging as they climbed higher.
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Steep Definitions
To soak in liquid to extract flavor or to soften.
She steeped the tea leaves for exactly five minutes.
To immerse something in a liquid.
He steeped the cloth in dye to change its color.
To involve oneself deeply; immerse.
She steeped herself in study for the final exams.
To undergo steeping or soaking.
The fabric must steep overnight in the fixative solution.
Having a sharp inclination; precipitous.
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At a rapid or precipitous rate
A steep rise in imports.
Excessive; stiff
A steep price.
Ambitious; difficult
A steep undertaking.
A precipitous slope.
The act or process of steeping.
The state of being steeped.
A liquid, bath, or solution in which something is steeped.
To immerse in liquid for a period of time, as to cleanse, treat, or extract a given property from
Steeped the cloth in red dye.
Steeped the tea bag in boiling water.
To involve or preoccupy thoroughly; immerse
As a child, she steeped herself in adventure stories.
To make thoroughly wet; saturate.
To undergo a soaking in liquid
Let the tea steep for five minutes.
Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.
A steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep barometric gradient
(informal) expensive
Twenty quid for a shave? That's a bit steep.
(obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.
(of the rake of a ship's mast, or a car's windshield) resulting in a mast or windshield angle that strongly diverges from the perpendicular
The steep rake of the windshield enhances the fast lines of the exterior.
The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.
A liquid used in a steeping process
Corn steep has many industrial uses.
A rennet bag.
To soak or wet thoroughly.
They steep skins in a tanning solution to create leather.
The tea is steeping.
To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in.
A town steeped in history
To make tea (or other beverage) by placing leaves in hot water.
Bright; glittering; fiery.
His eyen steep, and rolling in his head.
Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient.
Difficult of access; not easily reached; lofty; elevated; high.
Excessive; as, a steep price.
To soak in a liquid; to macerate; to extract the essence of by soaking; as, to soften seed by steeping it in water. Often used figuratively.
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.
In refreshing dew to steepThe little, trembling flowers.
The learned of the nation were steeped in Latin.
To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping.
Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds.
A rennet bag.
A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice.
We had on each side naked rocks and mountains broken into a thousand irregular steeps and precipices.
Bare steeps, where desolation stalks.
A steep place (as on a hill)
Engross (oneself) fully;
He immersed himself into his studies
Let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse;
Steep the blossoms in oil
Steep the fruit in alcohol
Having a sharp inclination;
The steep attic stairs
Steep cliffs
Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation;
Exorbitant rent
Extortionate prices
Spends an outrageous amount on entertainment
Usorious interest rate
Unconscionable spending
Of a slope; set at a high angle;
Note the steep incline
A steep roof sheds snow
To have a sharp, almost vertical slope or angle.
The steep hill was difficult to climb.
To rise or fall sharply; abrupt.
Prices took a steep dive after the announcement.
Excessive or exorbitant, as in prices.
The prices at that boutique are quite steep.
To saturate or thoroughly soak.
The rain steeped the soil, making it muddy and slick.
To infuse or percolate.
He let the spices steep in the sauce to enhance the flavor.
To be extreme or intense in a non-physical way.
The steep learning curve in her new job was overwhelming.
Steep Snonyms
Precipitous
Very steep, or done suddenly and without careful consideration.
The precipitous cliffs were a challenge for even experienced climbers.
Vertical
Being in a position or direction perpendicular to the plane of the horizon.
The vertical walls of the fortress were impregnable.
Sheer
Perpendicular or nearly so; used especially of cliffs and walls.
The sheer mountain face looked daunting.
Abrupt
Sudden and unexpected, often used to describe changes in elevation.
The road ended in an abrupt drop.
Exorbitant
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high.
The exorbitant cost of the tickets deterred many fans.
Percolate
To filter gradually through a porous surface or substance.
The water slowly percolated through the ground coffee.
Sharp
Having a sudden or acute effect; steep.
The sharp increase in prices was unexpected.
Soak
To leave something in liquid for a period of time.
Soak the beans overnight before cooking.
Immerse
To involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest.
He immersed himself in the culture of his new country.
Incline
To tilt upwards; an upward slope.
The gentle incline of the hill made it an easy hike.
Steep Idioms & Phrases
Steep price to pay
A high cost or consequence for an action or decision.
Missing the meeting was a steep price to pay for his tardiness.
Take a steep dive
To suddenly decrease in value or amount.
Stock prices took a steep dive overnight.
Steep oneself in
To immerse oneself completely in an activity or subject.
She steeped herself in the music and culture of the place.
At a steep angle
Positioned at a sharp incline.
The road climbs at a steep angle near the peak.
Steep in history
To be full of historical significance.
The city is steep in history, dating back thousands of years.
On steep ground
In a difficult or precarious position.
He found himself on steep ground during the negotiation.
Steep in tradition
Deeply entrenched in customary practices.
The festival is steep in tradition and attracts thousands each year.
Steep learning curve
A situation in which someone has to learn a lot in a short period of time.
The new software has a steep learning curve.
At a steep cost
Requiring a lot of money or sacrifice.
The project was completed at a steep cost.
Steep climb ahead
A metaphor for a challenging task or period ahead.
With the exams coming up, there’s a steep climb ahead for students.
A steep drop
A sharp decrease or decline.
There was a steep drop in temperature this evening.
Make the steep climb
To undertake a difficult effort.
They made the steep climb to the top of the industry.
Reach a steep part
To encounter a difficult phase of a process.
The project reached a steep part when funding was cut.
Not as steep as it looks
Not as difficult as it appears to be.
The task was not as steep as it looks once they started working on it.
Steep Example Sentences
Their request for a raise was met with a steep refusal.
The street was so steep that walking up it was exhausting.
He decided to steep the spices in oil to infuse the flavors.
The price of admission is steep, but it’s worth it.
His interest in medieval history began to steep during college.
She faced a steep challenge transitioning to a new career.
The mountainside was too steep to climb without proper gear.
The path became less steep as they approached the village.
The steep incline made the hike more challenging.
The steep fall in demand caused the factory to close.
Common Curiosities
How is steep used in a sentence?
"Steep" can describe a sharp physical incline or a figurative increase in intensity or difficulty, and can also refer to immersing something in liquid.
Why is it called steep?
"Steep" comes from the Old English "stēap," which originally meant "high" or "lofty" and evolved to refer to sharp inclinations.
What is a stressed syllable in steep?
The only syllable in "steep," the whole word, is stressed.
How do we divide steep into syllables?
Steep is a single-syllable word and is not divided.
What is the root word of steep?
The root word of "steep" is the Old English "stēap," meaning high or lofty.
How many syllables are in steep?
There is one syllable in "steep."
What is the second form of steep?
The second form of "steep" is "steeped."
What part of speech is steep?
"Steep" can be a verb, an adjective, or a noun.
What is the verb form of steep?
"Steep" itself is the base verb form.
What is the first form of steep?
The first form of "steep" is "steep."
What is the singular form of steep?
"Steep" is the same in both singular and plural forms when used as an adjective or a verb.
What is the third form of steep?
The third form of "steep" is also "steeped."
What is another term for steep?
Another term for "steep" could be "precipitous" or "sheer."
What is the pronunciation of steep?
Steep is pronounced as /stiːp/.
Is steep an abstract noun?
No, "steep" as a noun refers to a measurable incline, thus it is not abstract.
Is steep a negative or positive word?
"Steep" can be either negative or positive depending on the context. It may denote difficulty or, as in a steep learning curve, a challenge that yields rewards.
Is the word steep imperative?
"Steep" can be used in the imperative form when giving instructions, especially in culinary contexts, e.g., "Steep the tea for five minutes."
Is steep an adverb?
No, "steep" is not typically used as an adverb.
Is the word steep Gerund?
"Steeping" is the gerund form of "steep," referring to the action of soaking or infusing.
Is steep a collective noun?
No, "steep" is not a collective noun.
Is the steep term a metaphor?
"Steep" can be used metaphorically to describe any situation that is particularly challenging or intense, such as a "steep learning curve."
Which preposition is used with steep?
Common prepositions used with "steep" include "in" when used as a verb (e.g., steeped in tradition) and "on" when used as an adjective (e.g., on a steep hill).
Which article is used with steep?
The definite article "the" or the indefinite "a" can be used with "steep" depending on its use in the sentence, e.g., "a steep hill" or "the steep cost."
Is steep a noun or adjective?
"Steep" can be used as both a noun and an adjective.
Is steep a vowel or consonant?
"Steep" starts with a consonant.
Is steep a countable noun?
As a noun, "steep" is countable (e.g., several steeps in the terrain).
Is the word “steep” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
As a verb, "steep" can take a direct object, which is what is being steeped, e.g., "steep the tea leaves."
Which determiner is used with steep?
Determiners used with "steep" depend on its function in a sentence. For instance, as an adjective, you might say "a steep incline."
Which vowel is used before steep?
The vowel used before "steep" depends on the previous word in the sentence; there is no specific vowel that typically precedes it.
What is the plural form of steep?
"Steep" does not change in form and remains "steep" when used as a verb or an adjective.
What is the opposite of steep?
The opposite of "steep" could be "gradual" or "gentle."
Which conjunction is used with steep?
Conjunctions are not specifically linked to "steep"; usage depends on the sentence structure.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
