Word forms: comparative steeper, superlative steepest, 3rd person singular presenttense steeps, present participle steeping, past tense, past participle steeped
1. adjective
A steep slope rises at a very sharp angle and is difficult to go up.
San Francisco is built on 40 hills and some are very steep.
...a narrow, steep-sided valley.
Synonyms: sheer, precipitous, perpendicular, abrupt More Synonyms of steep
steeplyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The road climbs steeply, with good views of Orvieto through the trees.
...steeply terraced valleys.
...houses with steeply sloping roofs.
2. adjective
A steep increase or decrease in something is a very big increase or decrease.
Consumers are rebelling at steep price increases.
steeplyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Unemployment is rising steeply.
3. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that the price of something is steep, you mean that it is expensive.
[informal]
The annual premium can be a little steep, but will be well worth it if your dog isinjured.
Synonyms: high, excessive, exorbitant, extreme More Synonyms of steep
4. verb
To steep food in a liquid means to put the food in the liquid for some time so that the food gets flavour from the liquid.
It's a drink made by steeping pineapple rind in water. [VERB noun]
...green beans steeped in olive oil. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: soak, immerse, marinate [cookery], damp More Synonyms of steep
More Synonyms of steep
steep in British English1
(stiːp)
adjective
1.
a.
having or being a slope or gradient approaching the perpendicular
b.
(as noun)
the steep
2. informal
(of a fee, price, demand, etc) unduly high; unreasonable (esp in the phrase that's a bit steep)
3. informal
excessively demanding or ambitious
a steep task
4. British informal
(of a statement) extreme or far-fetched
5. obsolete
elevated
Derived forms
steeply (ˈsteeply)
adverb
steepness (ˈsteepness)
noun
Word origin
Old English steap; related to Old Frisian stāp, Old High German stouf cliff, Old Norse staup
steep in British English2
(stiːp)
verb
1.
to soak or be soaked in a liquid in order to soften, cleanse, extract an element, etc
2. (tr; usually passive)
to saturate; imbue
steeped in ideology
noun
3.
an instance or the process of steeping or the condition of being steeped
4.
a liquid or solution used for the purpose of steeping something
Derived forms
steeper (ˈsteeper)
noun
Word origin
Old English stēpan; related to steap vessel, cup, Old High German stouf, Old Norse staup, Middle Dutch stōp
steep in American English1
(stip)
adjective
1.
having a sharp rise or highly inclined slope; precipitous
a steep incline
2. Informal
a.
unreasonably high or great; exorbitant; excessive
steep demands, a steep price
b.
extreme; exaggerated
a rather steep statement
3. Obsolete
high; lofty
noun
4.
a steep slope or incline
SYNONYMY NOTE: steep1 suggests such sharpness of rise or slope as to make ascent or descent very difficult[a steep hill]; abrupt implies a sharper degree of inclination in a surface breaking off suddenly from thelevel [an abrupt bank at the river's edge]; precipitous suggests the abrupt and headlong drop of a precipice [a precipitous height]; sheer1 applies to that which is perpendicular, or almost so, and unbroken throughout itslength [cliffs falling sheer to the sea]
Derived forms
steeply (ˈsteeply)
adverb
steepness (ˈsteepness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE steap, lofty, high, akin to OFris steep, MHG stouf, cliff (as in Ger Hohenstaufen) < IE *steup- < base *(s)teu-, to strike, butt > stock, stub, L tundere, to strike
steep in American English2
(stip)
verb transitive
1.
to soak in liquid, so as to soften, clean, extract the essence of, etc.
2.
to immerse, saturate, absorb, or imbue
steeped in folklore
verb intransitive
3.
to be steeped, as tea leaves
noun
4.
a steeping or being steeped
5.
liquid in which something is steeped
SIMILAR WORDS: soak
Word origin
ME stepen, akin to ON steypa, to overturn, cast (metals), plunge into: for prob. IE base see steep1
Examples of 'steep' in a sentence
steep
The steeper decline in seats available suggests that airlines will switch to smaller aircraft.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The only worry is that he can land a little steep over his fences.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can also cut charges by making sure you do not get stung by steep excess fees.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Too steep a launch angle could result in a stall.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But running costs can be high because of steep parts prices.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some regions have seen steeper rises for electricity.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You always try to pick steeper terrain to fly relative to.
The Sun (2013)
The scheme has been blamed by economists for steep prices increases.
The Sun (2015)
The mountains grew steadily higher and steeper.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Lanes head in chaotic directions up and around steep hills.
The Sun (2016)
The final narrow and steep section of the stairs leads to the attic bedroom.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
On the other side of the road a steep ravine led to a babbling stream.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The decline became progressively steeper the older the civil servants were at the beginning.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Prices are a little steep but you can always pack a picnic.
The Sun (2010)
The steep increase in tuition fees has not deterred poor students from going to university.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The faults that define the edges of the basins dive downwards at a steep angle.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
All of the towns have house prices that are steep for their area.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Then there is the bounce, which is steep and sharp.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You can keep tabs on how your performance is affected by, say, a steep gradient.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One seam had a steep gradient, and the further it went down, the wetter it got.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
In other languages
steep
British English: steep /stiːp/ ADJECTIVE
A steep slope rises at a very sharp angle and is difficult to go up.
Some of the hills are very steep.
American English: steep
Arabic: شَدِيدُ الإِنْحِدَار
Brazilian Portuguese: íngreme
Chinese: 陡峭的
Croatian: strm
Czech: strmý
Danish: stejl
Dutch: steil
European Spanish: empinado
Finnish: jyrkkä
French: escarpé
German: steil
Greek: απόκρημνος
Italian: irto
Japanese: 急な 傾斜
Korean: 가파른
Norwegian: bratt
Polish: stromy
European Portuguese: íngreme
Romanian: abrupt
Russian: крутой
Latin American Spanish: empinado
Swedish: brant
Thai: สูงชัน
Turkish: dik yokuş vb
Ukrainian: крутий
Vietnamese: dốc
All related terms of 'steep'
steep-up
very steep or perpendicular
steep-sided
having steep sides
steep slope
A slope is the side of a mountain, hill , or valley .
steep losses
If a business makes a loss , it earns less than it spends .
steep downturn
If there is a downturn in the economy or in a company or industry, it becomes worse or less successful than it had been.
Chinese translation of 'steep'
steep
(stiːp)
adj
[hill, staircase]陡的 (dǒu de)
[increase, rise]急剧(劇)的 (jíjù de)
(inf, = expensive) 过(過)高的 (guò gāo de)
vt
to steep sth in liquid将(將)某物浸泡在液体(體)中 (jiāng mǒuwù jìnpào zài yètǐ zhōng)
to be steeped in history充满(滿)历(歷)史气(氣)息 (chōngmǎn lìshǐ qìxī)
1 (adjective)
Definition
having a sharp slope
a narrow, steep-sided valley
Synonyms
sheer
There was a sheer drop just outside my window.
precipitous
a steep, precipitous cliff
perpendicular
a narrow, exposed beach and perpendicular cliffs
abrupt
His abrupt departure is bound to raise questions.
headlong
vertical
The climber inched up a vertical wall of rock.
Opposites
gentle
, moderate,
gradual
,
easy
,
slight
2 (adjective)
Unemployment has shown a steep rise.
Synonyms
sharp
There's been a sharp rise in the rate of inflation.
sudden
It was all very sudden.
abrupt
narrow valleys and abrupt hillsides
marked
There has been a marked increase in crimes against property.
extreme
distinct
There was a distinct change in her attitude.
3 (adjective)
Definition
(of a fee, price, or demand) unreasonably high
(informal)
The annual premium can be a little steep.
Synonyms
high
I think it's a good buy overall, despite the high price.
excessive
banks which cripple their customers with excessive charges
exorbitant
exorbitant housing prices
extreme
people living in extreme poverty
stiff
unreasonable
unreasonable increases in the price of petrol
overpriced
extortionate
the extortionate price of designer clothes
uncalled-for
Opposites
fair
,
reasonable
, moderate
(verb)
Definition
to soak or be soaked in a liquid in order to soften or cleanse
green beans steeped in olive oil
Synonyms
soak
Soak the beans for two hours.
immerse
marinate (cookery)
Marinate the chicken for at least four hours.
damp
She damped a hand towel and laid it across her head.
submerge
drench
They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.
moisten
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.
macerate
I like to macerate the food in liqueur for a few minutes before serving.
souse
imbrue (rare)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abrupt
Definition
sudden or unexpected
His abrupt departure is bound to raise questions.
Synonyms
sudden,
unexpected,
hurried,
rapid,
surprising,
quick,
swift,
rash,
precipitate,
hasty,
impulsive,
headlong,
unforeseen,
unanticipated
in the sense of abrupt
narrow valleys and abrupt hillsides
Synonyms
steep,
sharp,
sheer,
sudden,
precipitous
in the sense of damp
Definition
to make slightly wet
She damped a hand towel and laid it across her head.
Synonyms
moisten,
wet,
soak,
dampen,
lick,
moisturize,
humidify
Synonyms of 'steep'
steep
Explore 'steep' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of distinct
Definition
obvious
There was a distinct change in her attitude.
Synonyms
definite,
marked,
clear,
decided,
obvious,
sharp,
plain,
apparent,
patent,
evident,
black-and-white,
manifest,
noticeable,
conspicuous,
clear-cut,
unmistakable,
palpable,
recognizable,
unambiguous,
observable,
perceptible,
appreciable
in the sense of drench
Definition
to make completely wet
They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.
Synonyms
soak,
flood,
wet,
duck,
drown,
steep,
swamp,
saturate,
inundate,
souse,
imbrue
in the sense of excessive
banks which cripple their customers with excessive charges
Synonyms
inordinate,
unfair,
unreasonable,
disproportionate,
undue,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
over the odds,
extortionate,
immoderate
in the sense of exorbitant
Definition
(of prices, demands, etc.) excessively great or high
exorbitant housing prices
Synonyms
excessive,
high,
expensive,
extreme,
ridiculous,
outrageous,
extravagant,
unreasonable,
undue,
preposterous,
unwarranted,
inordinate,
extortionate,
unconscionable,
immoderate
in the sense of extortionate
Definition
(of prices, profits, etc.) much higher than is fair
the extortionate price of designer clothes
Synonyms
exorbitant,
excessive,
outrageous,
unreasonable,
inflated,
extravagant,
preposterous,
sky-high,
inordinate,
immoderate
in the sense of extreme
Definition
of a high or the highest degree or intensity
people living in extreme poverty
Synonyms
great,
high,
highest,
greatest,
worst,
supreme,
acute,
severe,
maximum,
intense,
ultimate,
utmost,
mother of all (informal),
uttermost
in the sense of macerate
Definition
to soften or be softened by soaking
I like to macerate the food in liqueur for a few minutes before serving.
Synonyms
soften,
soak,
steep,
squash,
pulp,
mash,
infuse
in the sense of marinate
Definition
to soak in marinade
Marinate the chicken for at least four hours.
Synonyms
souse,
soak,
steep,
immerse
in the sense of marked
Definition
obvious or noticeable
There has been a marked increase in crimes against property.
Synonyms
noticeable,
clear,
decided,
striking,
noted,
obvious,
signal,
dramatic,
considerable,
outstanding,
remarkable,
apparent,
prominent,
patent,
evident,
distinct,
pronounced,
notable,
manifest,
blatant,
conspicuous,
salient
in the sense of moisten
Definition
to make or become moist
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.
Synonyms
dampen,
water,
wet,
soak,
damp,
moisturize,
humidify,
bedew
Additional synonyms
in the sense of perpendicular
a narrow, exposed beach and perpendicular cliffs
Synonyms
steep,
sheer,
precipitous,
vertiginous
in the sense of precipitous
Definition
very steep
a steep, precipitous cliff
Synonyms
sheer,
high,
steep,
dizzy,
abrupt,
perpendicular,
falling sharply
in the sense of souse
Definition
to steep or cook (food) in a marinade
Synonyms
steep,
soak,
pickle,
immerse,
drench,
marinate,
dunk
in the sense of sudden
Definition
occurring or performed quickly and without warning