2
: making a large angle with the plane of the horizon
3
a
: mounting or falling precipitously
the stairs were very steep
b
: being or characterized by a rapid and intensive decline or increase
4
: extremely or excessively high
steep prices
: a precipitous place
steeped; steeping; steeps
1
: to soak in a liquid at a temperature under the boiling point (as for softening, bleaching, or extracting an essence)
2
: to cover with or plunge into a liquid (as in bathing, rinsing, or soaking)
3
: to saturate with or subject thoroughly to (some strong or pervading influence)
practices steeped in tradition
: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid
steeper
noun
1
: the state or process of being steeped
2
: a bath or solution in which something is steeped
Synonyms
Examples of steep in a Sentence
Adjective
The stairs are very steep.
a steep drop in prices
The store's prices are too steep for me.
Their rates are pretty steep.
Verb
Steep the tea for three minutes.
The tea steeped for five minutes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Lang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024
On Monday, a Brazilian Supreme Court panel upheld the decision to limit access to X. Internet service providers and mobile app stores have until September 4th to block X, and those who continue accessing the platform through a virtual private network (VPN) could face steep daily fines.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2024
Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 27 July 2024
Increasing the time tea steeps increases the amount of caffeine and other components like theanine.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 11 July 2024
Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024
Ginger Tea Ginger tea, made by steeping fresh ginger root in water, is most commonly sipped to treat nausea and vomiting.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for steep 
Adjective
The rest of the world saw a less steep drop of just 6.6% to €12.9 million ($14.2 million), still significant.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024
On Monday, a Brazilian Supreme Court panel upheld the decision to limit access to X. Internet service providers and mobile app stores have until September 4th to block X, and those who continue accessing the platform through a virtual private network (VPN) could face steep daily fines.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2024
Noun
The shorts are made out of durable nylon that stretches enough to allow you the range of motion to stand on a picnic table for no reason or hike the steeps of a Colorado mountain trail.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 27 July 2024
Increasing the time tea steeps increases the amount of caffeine and other components like theanine.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 11 July 2024
Verb
Another year into the process, the personnel staff is steeped more thoroughly in Payton’s parlance.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024
Ginger Tea Ginger tea, made by steeping fresh ginger root in water, is most commonly sipped to treat nausea and vomiting.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for steep
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near steep
Cite this Entry
“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steep. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
steep
1 of 3 adjective1
: having a very sharp slope : almost straight up-and-down
2
: being or characterized by a very rapid decline or increase
3
: too great or high
steep prices
steeply
adverb
steep
2 of 3 noun
: a sharply sloping place
steep
3 of 3 verb1
a
: to soak in liquid (as for drawing out a flavor) at a temperature under the boiling point
steep tea
b
: to undergo the process of soaking in a liquid
2
: to fill with or involve deeply
steeped in learning
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