steep

UK: /ˈstiːp/ US: /stip/ ,(stēp)

Inflections of 'steep' (adj):

steeper

adj comparative

steepest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

steep¹ /stip/   adj., -er, -est. 

1. having an almost vertical slope or angle:
   a steep hill.
2. (of a price or amount) too high;
   exorbitant:
   $50,000 is a little steep for a new car.

steep•ly, adv.: 

The mountain rose steeply in front of him.

steep•ness, n. [uncountable]

steep² /stip/   v. 

1. to (cause to) be soaked in water to soften, cleanse, or extract some component: [no object]
   The tea is steeping in the pot.
   [~ + object]
   to steep some tea.
2. to be filled with (some quality, feeling, atmosphere, etc.):
   [be + ~-ed + in + object] The incident was steeped in mystery and intrigue.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

steep¹ (stēp),  adj., -er, -est, n. 

adj. 

1. having an almost vertical slope or pitch, or a relatively high gradient, as a hill, an ascent, stairs, etc.
2. (of a price or amount) unduly high;
   exorbitant:
   Those prices are too steep for me.
3. extreme or incredible, as a statement or story.
4. high or lofty.

n. 

5. a steep place;
   declivity, as of a hill.

• bef. 900; Middle English stepe (adjective, adjectival), Old English stēap; akin to stoop¹

steep′ly, adv. 
steep′ness, n. 

steep² (stēp),  v.t. 

1. to soak in water or other liquid, as to soften, cleanse, or extract some constituent:
   to steep tea in boiling-hot water; to steep reeds for basket weaving.
2. to wet thoroughly in or with a liquid;
   drench;
   saturate;
   imbue.
3. to immerse in or saturate or imbue with some pervading, absorbing, or stupefying influence or agency:
   an incident steeped in mystery.

v.i. 

4. to lie soaking in a liquid.

n. 

5. the act or process of steeping or the state of being steeped.
6. a liquid in which something is steeped.

• ?; compare Swedish stöpa; (noun, nominal) late Middle English stepe, derivative of the verb, verbal
• (verb, verbal) Middle English stepen 1350–1400

steep′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. infuse.
• 2. permeate.
• 3. bury, engulf.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

steep / stiːp/ adjective

1. having or being a slope or gradient approaching the perpendicular
2. (as noun): the steep
3. (of a fee, price, demand, etc) unduly high; unreasonable (esp in the phrase that's a bit steep)
4. excessively demanding or ambitious: a steep task
5. (of a statement) extreme or far-fetched
6. elevated

Etymology: Old English steap; related to Old Frisian stāp, Old High German stouf cliff, Old Norse staup

ˈsteeply adverb

ˈsteepness noun

steep / stiːp/ verb

to soak or be soaked in a liquid in order to soften, cleanse, extract an element, etc

(tr; usually passive) to saturate; imbue: steeped in ideology

noun

1. an instance or the process of steeping or the condition of being steeped
2. a liquid or solution used for the purpose of steeping something

Etymology: Old English stēpan; related to steap vessel, cup, Old High German stouf, Old Norse staup, Middle Dutch stōp

ˈsteeper noun