steer

¹ American  

[steer] / stɪər /

verb (used with object)

1. to guide the course of (something in motion) by a rudder, helm, wheel, etc..

   to steer a bicycle.

2. to follow or pursue (a particular course).

3. to direct the course of; guide.

   I can steer you to the best restaurant in town.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to direct the course of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, or the like, by the use of a rudder or other means.

2. to pursue a course of action.

3. (of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, etc.) to be steered or guided in a particular direction or manner.

noun

1. Informal. a suggestion about a course of action; tip.

   He got a good steer about finding the right job.

idioms

1. steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid.

   She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.

steer ² American  

[steer] / stɪər /

noun

steers plural

1. a male bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity, especially one raised for beef.

---

steer ³ American  

[steer] / stɪər /

verb (used with or without object)

British Dialect.

1. stir.

---

steer ¹ British  

/ stɪə /

verb

1. to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc

2. (tr) to guide with tuition

   his teachers steered him through his exams

3. (tr) to direct the movements or course of (a person, conversation, etc)

4. to pursue (a specified course)

5. (intr) (of a vessel, vehicle, etc) to admit of being guided in a specified fashion

   this boat does not steer properly

6. to keep away from; shun

---

noun

1. information; guidance (esp in the phrase a bum steer )

steer ² British  

/ stɪə /

noun

1. a castrated male ox or bull; bullock

---

steer More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing steer

• bum steer

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unsteerable
  adjective
• steerable
  adjective
• steerer
  noun
• steerability
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• steer
  plural
• steers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of steer¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English steren, stere, stieren, Old English stēoran, stēran, stíoran, stýran, akin to stēor, stýr “steering, guidance”; cognate with German steuern, Old Norse stȳra, Gothic stiurjan

Origin of steer²

First recorded before 900; Middle English ster(e), Old English stēor “young bull or ox,” cognate with Dutch, German Stier, Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur

Explanation

In defining steer, I would steer clear of complicated examples and just say: to steer is to control which direction one is going. Everyone who owns a car has learned to point his car in the right direction using the steering wheel. It's a bad idea to let your five year-old steer; you might end up in a sandbox. But the use of steer doesn't need to be limited to wheels and handle bars. If you have a friend torn between whether or not to go to college, you can help steer her towards the right decision. The President's job is "to steer the Ship of State."

Example Sentences

The last tail risk for risk assets that Steer identifies is concerns about Taiwan, following ambiguous comments about the island’s future after the summit between President Donald Trump China’s leader Xi Jinping.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Durst advised steakhouse Golden Steer on its recently opened New York location, its first outside Las Vegas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Ms Steer and her husband Jono underwent IVF treatment and finally received the good news they had been hoping for, welcoming their baby son last year.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2025

He started his next batter, Spencer Steer, with two more balls.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025

Steer number 534 spent his first six months in these pastures alongside his mother, a cow named 9534.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• drive
• escort
• govern
• herd
• shepherd