steam

1 of 2

noun

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
b
: active force : power, momentum
got there under his own steam
sales began to pick up steam
also : normal force
at full steam
c
: pent-up emotional tension
needed to let off a little steam
4
b
: travel by or a trip in a steamer

steam

2 of 2

verb

steamed; steaming; steams

transitive verb

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)

intransitive verb

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

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
Noun
Arizona Republicans want to change how 'gender' is defined and used in state laws His campaign quickly ran out of steam in that cycle. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 The Tories have run out of ideas, and the Lib Dems have run out of steam. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2024 Do the players run out of steam late in the season? Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 This former cattle town has been picking up steam for the past decade as companies and young adults have decided to make their home here. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 The song picked up viral steam in late 2023 on TikTok, however, when users adopted it as the main choice for the ceiling challenge. Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 Calls for change As the conversation has picked up steam online, many industry insiders, including Fleener, the Messings, Bier and Lord, have proposed making several changes to the conference and beyond to prevent harassment from continuing at Legalweek and the industry at large. Bill Chappell, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 The rally picked up steam again on Monday, as the Nikkei 225 crossed 40,000 points for the first time in morning trading. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 4 Mar. 2024 The complex has five saunas and a steam room; 11 thermal pools; a treatment area with massages, facials and more; a restaurant; and a cafe. Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
Once a rough shape has been created, the felt is heated and steamed so that Mr. Mejia can stretch and shape it into the precise form. Lisa Richwine, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 Other menu options include edamame, gyoza and steamed bao buns. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 The attraction was Tran’s menu, an extensive survey of Vietnamese home-style cooking, including pho, hot pots, papaya salad, spring rolls, steamed rice crepes and dozens of other dishes. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 Nguyen spends a full day making them, soaking the rice, preparing the filling of pork belly and mung beans, and steaming the cakes in banana leaves for six to eight hours. Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2024 Finally, the balls are steamed and served with a hot ladleful of the stew. Mosab Abu Toha, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024 The fish steams with gold potatoes, asparagus, and peppers in the parcel, which is opened at the table to release a dramatic cloud of aromatic steam. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024 Sometimes, the service goes even further and involves steaming, ironing, and putting sheets on a customer's bed. Brin Snelling, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The fried rice steamed from its container, heady sustenance dotted with scrambled eggs, and brightened with a few green flecks of scallions. Hetty Lui McKinnon, Bon Appétit, 19 Feb. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stem, from Old English stēam; akin to Dutch stoom steam

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of steam was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near steam

Cite this Entry

“Steam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steam. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

steam

1 of 2 noun
1
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 verb
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on steam

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