Soak vs. Steep — What's the Difference?

To immerse in liquid for a period of time

Having a sharp inclination; precipitous.

To make thoroughly wet or saturated

At a rapid or precipitous rate

To absorb (liquid, for example) through pores or interstices

Excessive; stiff

To be exposed to

Ambitious; difficult

(Informal) To experience or take in mentally, especially eagerly and easily

A precipitous slope.

To remove (a stain, for example) by continued immersion

The act or process of steeping.

To drink (alcoholic liquor), especially to excess.

The state of being steeped.

To make (a person) drunk.

A liquid, bath, or solution in which something is steeped.

(Slang) To charge (a person) an inordinate amount for something

To immerse in liquid for a period of time, as to cleanse, treat, or extract a given property from

To be immersed in liquid

To involve or preoccupy thoroughly; immerse

To seep into or permeate something

To make thoroughly wet; saturate.

To be taken in mentally

To undergo a soaking in liquid

(Slang) To drink to excess.

Of a near-vertical gradient; of a slope, surface, curve, etc. that proceeds upward at an angle near vertical.

The act or process of soaking

(informal) expensive

Liquid in which something may be soaked.

(obsolete) Difficult to access; not easy reached; lofty; elevated; high.

(Slang) A drunkard.

(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

(intransitive) To be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it.

The steep side of a mountain etc.; a slope or acclivity.

(transitive) To immerse in liquid to the point of saturation or thorough permeation.

A liquid used in a steeping process

(intransitive) To penetrate or permeate by saturation.

A rennet bag.

(transitive) To allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up)

To soak or wet thoroughly.

To take money from.

To imbue with something; to be deeply immersed in.

To drink intemperately or gluttonously.

To make tea (or other beverage) by placing leaves in hot water.

To heat (a metal) before shaping it.

Bright; glittering; fiery.

To hold a kiln at a particular temperature for a given period of time.

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.

To absorb; to drain.

Difficult of access; not easily reached; lofty; elevated; high.

(slang) to engage in sexual activity with penetration but without hip thrusting (usually said of Mormons).

Excessive; as, a steep price.

(transitive) To hit or strike.

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.

An immersion in water etc.

To undergo the process of soaking in a liquid; as, the tea is steeping.

A drunkard.

Something steeped, or used in steeping; a fertilizing liquid to hasten the germination of seeds.

(slang) A carouse; a drinking session.

A rennet bag.

(Australia) A low-lying depression that fills with water after rain.

A precipitous place, hill, mountain, rock, or ascent; any elevated object sloping with a large angle to the plane of the horizon; a precipice.

To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.

A steep place (as on a hill)

To drench; to wet thoroughly.

Engross (oneself) fully;

To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.

Let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse;

To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; - often with through.

Having a sharp inclination;

Fig.: To absorb; to drain.

Greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation;

To lie steeping in water or other liquid; to become sturated; as, let the cloth lie and soak.

Of a slope; set at a high angle;

To enter (into something) by pores or interstices; as, water soaks into the earth or other porous matter.

To drink intemperately or gluttonously.

The process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid);

Washing something by allowing it to soak

Submerge in a liquid;

Rip off; ask an unreasonable price

Cover with liquid; pour liquid onto;

Leave as a guarantee in return for money;

Beat severely; slang

Make drunk (with alcoholic drinks)

Become drunk or drink excessively

Fill, soak, or imbue totally;

Heat a metal prior to working it