How to pronounce steep
Say it like STEEP. Steep is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce steep. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STEEP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Steep pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STEEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of steep
American and British speakers say steep in essentially the same way: /stip/ in the US and /stiːp/ in the UK.
British respelling: STEEP.
What does steep mean?
- devote (oneself) fully to“He immersed himself into his studies”
- let sit in a liquid to extract a flavor or to cleanse“steep the blossoms in oil”“steep the fruit in alcohol”
- having a sharp inclination“the steep attic stairs”“steep cliffs”
- greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation“exorbitant rent”“extortionate prices”
- of a slope; set at a high angle“note the steep incline”“a steep roof sheds snow”
- a steep place (as on a hill)
Where does steep come from?
The sense of “sharp slope” is attested circa 1200; the sense “expensive” is attested US 1856.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with steep
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of steep.
Questions about saying steep
How do you pronounce steep?
Say STEEP. The American pronunciation is /stip/. In British English it is /stiːp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in steep?
Steep is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STEEP.
Do Americans and Brits say steep the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /stip/ and the British form is /stiːp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.