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
Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2024
Daniel Alvarez is in the business of finding solutions to reduce their waste steam and lower costs.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
Edward Szekeres and Brad Lendon, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
Elijah, still steaming after Olympia unilaterally ended their relationship last week, seems to take a perverse glee in informing her that the firm now represents Foundate Financials, the corporation which owns the Waltons’ apartment building (among many, many others).
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steam 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Sitting around: The other culprit is letting that topping sit around for too long after baking but before serving, as the steam emanating from the casserole will kill that crunch.
—Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2024
Daniel Alvarez is in the business of finding solutions to reduce their waste steam and lower costs.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
An aerial photo of the exercise showed the two carriers steaming side by side, with fighter jets overhead and at least 11 support ships from their carrier strike groups trailing.
—Edward Szekeres and Brad Lendon, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
Elijah, still steaming after Olympia unilaterally ended their relationship last week, seems to take a perverse glee in informing her that the firm now represents Foundate Financials, the corporation which owns the Waltons’ apartment building (among many, many others).
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for steam
Dictionary Entries Near steam
Cite this Entry
“Steam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steam. Accessed 22 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share