water in the form of an invisible gas or vapor.
water changed to this form by boiling, extensively used for the generation of mechanical power, for heating purposes, etc.
the mist formed when the gas or vapor from boiling water condenses in the air.
an exhalation of a vapor or mist.
Informal. power or energy.
to emit or give off steam or vapor.
to rise or pass off in the form of steam or vapor.
to become covered with condensed steam, as a window or other surface (often followed byup ).
to generate or produce steam, as in a boiler.
to move or travel by the agency of steam.
to move rapidly or evenly.
He steamed out of the room.
Informal. to be angry or show anger.
Fans are still steaming from Monday night’s sloppy 5-4 loss.
to expose to or treat with steam, as in order to heat, cook, soften, renovate, or the like.
to emit or exhale (steam or vapor).
Informal. to cause to become irked or angry (often followed byup ).
to convey by the agency of steam.
to steam the ship safely into port.
heated by or heating with steam.
a steam radiator.
propelled by or propelling with a steam engine.
operated by steam.
conducting steam.
a steam line.
bathed with or affected by steam.
of or relating to steam.
the gas or vapour into which water is changed when boiled
the mist formed when such gas or vapour condenses in the atmosphere
any vaporous exhalation
informal power, energy, or speed
(of a ship, etc) to work up a sufficient head of steam in a boiler to drive an engine
informal to go quickly
informal to release pent-up energy or emotions
without the assistance of others
slang cheap wine
(modifier) driven, operated, heated, powered, etc, by steam
a steam radiator
(modifier) treated by steam
steam ironed
steam cleaning
humorous (modifier) old-fashioned; outmoded
steam radio
to emit or be emitted as steam
(intr) to generate steam, as a boiler, etc
(intr) to move or travel by steam power, as a ship, etc
informal (intr) to proceed quickly and sometimes forcefully
to cook or be cooked in steam
(tr) to treat with steam or apply steam to, as in cleaning, pressing clothes, etc
Water in its gaseous state, especially at a temperature above the boiling point of water (above 100°C, or 212°F, at sea level).
See Note at vapor
A mist of condensed water vapor.
before 1000; Middle English steme, Old English stēam; cognate with Dutch stoom
Steam is what water becomes when it's heated to boiling and begins to turn into a gas. On a cold morning, you can really see the steam rising off your mug of hot chocolate. The steam we can see is water vapor, made up of the tiny water drops that form while water condenses. People have put steam to work in many different ways, including cooking, cleaning, and even powering trains and boats. If you "let off steam," you express your frustration or anger to calm yourself down. If you "lose steam," you lose energy or enthusiasm.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Zverev made slightly fewer errors to move a double break ahead at 3-0 and dragged himself over the line as the 24-year-old Cobolli ran out of steam.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
The fact that it’s best enjoyed piping hot, with steam rising in thin streams from spoonfuls of rice.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
Economists have long believed that economies expand and contract in predictable rhythms as expansions run out of steam due to monetary, fiscal and productivity constraints.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Retail investors will continue to feel it if semiconductors continue to lose steam here, especially if investors buy more on the way down.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
Leah boarded a steam train, traveled the 200 miles to Troy, and arrived that night.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
