steep
/stiːp/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Steep means rising or falling at a sharp angle. A steep road, hill, or slope is hard to walk or drive on.
- The path is too steep for bikes.
- We climbed a steep hill.
- 2.
Steep also means very high, especially for a price, rise, or amount. It often suggests something that feels larger than expected.
- The hotel charges a steep fee.
- There was a steep increase in rent.
verb
To steep tea or food means to leave it in hot water or liquid so the flavour comes out.
- Steep the tea for three minutes.
- Let the herbs steep in hot water.
Adinary Nuance
Steep is stronger than words like sloping or inclined. It usually suggests a sharp angle, or a price that feels uncomfortably high. For tea, steep is more exact than soak because it means flavour is being drawn out.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- dốc đứng
- Spanish
- empinado
- Chinese
- 陡峭
- Japanese
- 急な
- Korean
- 가파른
Etymology
Steep comes from Old English step, meaning 'rising sharply'. The verb sense for tea came later, in English, from the idea of soaking something in liquid.
Common phrases
steep hillsteep pricesteep increasesteep the tea
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is steep a positive or negative word?
- It is often negative when it describes a hill, price, or increase.
- What is the difference between steep and slope?
- Steep is an adjective. Slope is usually a noun for the surface itself.
- Can I say steep for prices?
- Yes. It means the price is very high or feels too high.
- How do I use steep for tea?
- Say, 'Steep the tea' or 'Let the tea steep in hot water.'