steep
16 synonyms and 1 antonym for steep, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Rising or falling at a sharp angle, close to vertical.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Rising or falling at a sharp angle, close to vertical.
“The cyclists got off and pushed their bikes up the steep road.”
Opposites
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.
