1
: a vapor arising from a heated substance
2
a
: the invisible vapor into which water is converted when heated to the boiling point
b
: the mist formed by the condensation on cooling of water vapor
3
a
: water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work
also
: the power so generated
c
: pent-up emotional tension
needed to let off a little steam
4
a
b
: travel by or a trip in a steamer
steamed; steaming; steams
1
: to give out as fumes : exhale
2
: to apply steam to
especially
: to expose to the action of steam (as for softening or cooking)
1
: to rise or pass off as vapor
2
: to give off steam or vapor
3
a
: to move or travel by the agency of steam
b
: to move or proceed with energy or force
4
: to be angry : boil
steaming over the insult
Synonyms
Examples of steam in a Sentence
Noun
Careful, the steam from the pot is hot.
The boat runs on steam.
He wiped the steam from the mirrors.
He was afraid he would run out of steam before the end of the race.
I was making good progress this morning, but now I'm starting to run out of steam.
Verb
a steaming bowl of soup
She prefers to steam carrots rather than boil them.
Their breath steamed the windows.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024
There's also a steam wand that'll produce the proper milk texture for cafe-like cappuccinos and flat whites.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
The dynamic gained steam in December, when a group of university presidents testified before a congressional committee.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024
After a TikTok snippet gained steam, their latest raunchy strip club anthem arrived via Open Shift/gamma in March just days following a Miami link-up and studio session.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024
The 155-piece set includes an authentic steam locomotive, a boxcar, a quad hopper, a domed tank, and a caboose, in addition to a station, signal bridge, figures, railroad signs, street signs, and telephone poles to bring the railway to life.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Apr. 2024
While there are some critics on Capitol Hill of the push against TikTok, the divestment-or-ban legislation continues to gain steam, and the White House said President Joe Biden would sign the earlier version of the bill.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2024
Keeping the steam plant building, subject to a structural evaluation, for use as a community center.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 17 Apr. 2024
Police received several tips from the community after their disappearance, as interest in their case gathered steam in the state and beyond.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
James Folta, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024
The Japanese taught him to steam off its bark instead, using plastic bundles and metal pipes.
—Alex Travelli Uma Bista, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Where to watch The Ipcress File: Not available to steam
17.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Yet there’s also an intrinsic understanding between the actors, who like to pick up each other’s trains of thought and seamlessly steam ahead.
—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Beef bulgogi — thinly sliced, grilled or pan-fried steak — is served over french fries as an appetizer or as an entrée with sides of rice and steamed vegetables.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
Grilling the vegetable makes for a much more interesting textural experience than steaming or boiling.
—Nicole Clausing, Sunset Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Add eggs to basket; cover and steam 13 to 14 minutes.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2024
In this new age of steal and steam, transatlantic trade costs dropped by roughly 60%.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
Noun
Much of the current hotel harkens back to its history including still being serviced by the original 1926 Otis elevator and the 1926 Kewanee Boiler to provide steam heat throughout the building.
—The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2024
There's also a steam wand that'll produce the proper milk texture for cafe-like cappuccinos and flat whites.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
The dynamic gained steam in December, when a group of university presidents testified before a congressional committee.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024
After a TikTok snippet gained steam, their latest raunchy strip club anthem arrived via Open Shift/gamma in March just days following a Miami link-up and studio session.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 22 Apr. 2024
The 155-piece set includes an authentic steam locomotive, a boxcar, a quad hopper, a domed tank, and a caboose, in addition to a station, signal bridge, figures, railroad signs, street signs, and telephone poles to bring the railway to life.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Apr. 2024
While there are some critics on Capitol Hill of the push against TikTok, the divestment-or-ban legislation continues to gain steam, and the White House said President Joe Biden would sign the earlier version of the bill.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2024
Keeping the steam plant building, subject to a structural evaluation, for use as a community center.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 17 Apr. 2024
Police received several tips from the community after their disappearance, as interest in their case gathered steam in the state and beyond.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Verb
My nose is bleeding and my net-gloves are steaming.
—James Folta, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024
The Japanese taught him to steam off its bark instead, using plastic bundles and metal pipes.
—Alex Travelli Uma Bista, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Where to watch The Ipcress File: Not available to steam
17.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Yet there’s also an intrinsic understanding between the actors, who like to pick up each other’s trains of thought and seamlessly steam ahead.
—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Beef bulgogi — thinly sliced, grilled or pan-fried steak — is served over french fries as an appetizer or as an entrée with sides of rice and steamed vegetables.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
Grilling the vegetable makes for a much more interesting textural experience than steaming or boiling.
—Nicole Clausing, Sunset Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
Add eggs to basket; cover and steam 13 to 14 minutes.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2024
In this new age of steal and steam, transatlantic trade costs dropped by roughly 60%.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near steam
Cite this Entry
“Steam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steam. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
steam
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the invisible vapor into which water is changed when heated to the boiling point
b
: the mist formed when water vapor cools
2
: water vapor kept under pressure so as to supply energy for heating, cooking, or mechanical work
also
: the power so generated
3
a
: driving force : power
arrived under their own steam
b
: built-up tension
let off a little steam
steam
2 of 2 verb1
: to rise or pass off as vapor
2
: to give off steam or vapor
3
: to move or travel by or as if by the power of steam
steamed up the river
4
: to be angry : boil
was steaming over the insult
5
: to expose to the action of steam (as for softening or cooking)
steamed clams
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