noun
steeple
STEE-puhl
Steeple (noun) means a tall, pointed tower on a building, especially a church, usually topped with a spire. Example: “The village church's steeple could be seen from miles away.”
noun
1
A tall, pointed tower on a building, especially a church, usually topped with a spire.
"The village church's steeple could be seen from miles away."
How to use steeple
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe pointed tower on top of a church or similar building.
Common pairings
church steeple
towering steeple
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like steeple.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- steeples
- Third person singular
- steeples
- Past tense
- steepled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The village church's _____ could be seen from miles away.
Etymology
From Old English stiepel, "tower," related to steep — likely from the sense of something rising sharply upward.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “steeple” mean?
The word “steeple” means a tall, pointed tower on a building, especially a church, usually topped with a spire. In plain terms, the pointed tower on top of a church or similar building.
How do you pronounce “steeple”?
“Steeple” is pronounced STEE-puhl (/ˈsti(ː)pəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “steeple” in a sentence?
Here is “steeple” used in a sentence: “The village church's steeple could be seen from miles away.”
What part of speech is “steeple”?
“Steeple” is a noun.
Where does the word “steeple” come from?
The word “steeple” comes from Old English. From Old English stiepel, "tower," related to steep — likely from the sense of something rising sharply upward.
