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steep

0 antonyms and opposites of steep, grouped by meaning.

Adj — Rising or falling at a sharp angle, close to vertical.

How to use steep

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

steep hill steep price steep learning curve steep tea

Etymology

From Old English steap, "high, lofty," from a Germanic root meaning "to push or stick up."

Full origin of steep →

Frequently asked questions

What does “steep” mean?

The word “steep” means rising or falling at a sharp angle, close to vertical. In plain terms, a sharp slope, an unreasonably high price, or soaking something (like tea leaves) in hot water.

How do you pronounce “steep”?

“Steep” is pronounced steep (/stiːp/ in IPA).

How do you use “steep” in a sentence?

Here is “steep” used in a sentence: “The trail became dangerously steep near the summit.”

What part of speech is “steep”?

Depending on how it is used, “steep” can be an adjective and a verb.

Where does the word “steep” come from?

The word “steep” comes from Old English. From Old English steap, "high, lofty," from a Germanic root meaning "to push or stick up.".

Is “steep” a common word?

“Steep” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “steep” have?

“Steep” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: rising or falling at a sharp angle, close to vertical.

What is the difference between steep and brew?

Steeping is specifically the soaking stage, when leaves or grounds sit in liquid so their flavour is drawn out. Brewing is the whole process of making the drink, so steeping is one part of brewing tea or coffee.

Why do people describe a price as steep?

Calling a price steep means it is very expensive or unreasonably high, as in "£40 for parking is a bit steep." The usage carries the image of a sharply rising slope over to costs: a steep price feels hard to climb to. It is informal but extremely common.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.