steak

American  

[steyk] / steɪk /

noun

• steaks
  plural

1. a typically thick slice of meat, especially beef, or a thick slice of firm, hearty fish, cooked by broiling, pan-frying, etc.: salmon steaks.

   a sirloin steak;

   salmon steaks.

2. ground or chopped meat prepared in the same manner as a steak.

3. a thick slice of a hearty vegetable or other meaty food: tofu steaks.

   eggplant steaks;

   tofu steaks.

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steak British  

/ steɪk /

noun

1. See beefsteak

2. any of various cuts of beef of varying quality, used for braising, stewing, etc

3. a thick slice of pork, veal, etc, or of a large fish, esp cod or salmon

4. minced meat prepared in the same way as steak

   hamburger steak

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• steaks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of steak

1400–50; late Middle English steike < Old Norse steik meat roasted on a stick

Explanation

If you order steak at a restaurant, you'll probably be served a thick piece of cooked meat. Although most people use the noun steak to mean a slice of grilled or broiled beef, it can be used to talk about any kind of meat or fish. Many people like to cook tuna steaks on the grill or order a medium-rare T-bone steak at a restaurant. Since the fifteenth century, steak has meant "thick slice of meat," from the Old Norse root word steik, "roast meat."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

steak steaks

She’s even preparing her dinners in advance—medium-rare steak and salmon with sweet potato on the side.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

As orders flood into the restaurant via online food delivery services and a walk-up window, a butcher slices through whole chickens while one cook flips thin slabs of steak and chicken on a grill.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Schulman said he had been seeing “a consistent trade into premium proteins,” like pomegranate-glazed salmon or grilled steak, regardless of income bracket.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

A red cartoon hunk of steak, a bronzed turkey, a few shrimp, a tub of unsweetened yogurt, an apple and a bag of frozen peas cascade alongside him.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026

“Journalism,” Taro says, stuffing his face with steak.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Outback Steakhouse customers are trading up for premium steaks; Shake Shack profits slip as operating expenses rise; plus, a leadership shake-up at Google.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

After the dozens of well-heeled guests in attendance tucked into New York strip steaks and carrot cake, Kielpinski called on them to open their wallets and donate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Over a dinner featuring steaks, salmon and burrata salad, Graham toasted Scott Bessent—Trump’s Treasury secretary and a fellow South Carolinian, who traveled to Ankara on Air Force One with the president.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

The Mibrasa Hibachi Table Top Grill is portable, maintains a fire for hours and makes grilling skewers, vegetables and even steaks feel like part of the entertainment.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

“Two rib steaks and french fries. You want soup?”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck