steeplechase
Americannoun
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a horse race over a turf course furnished with artificial ditches, hedges, and other obstacles over which the horses must jump.
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a point-to-point race.
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a footrace run on a cross-country course or over a course having obstacles, such as ditches, hurdles, or the like, which the runners must clear.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a horse race over a course equipped with obstacles to be jumped, esp artificial hedges, ditches, water jumps, etc
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a track race, usually of 3000 metres, in which the runners have to leap hurdles, a water jump, etc
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archaic
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a horse race across a stretch of open countryside including obstacles to be jumped
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a rare word for point-to-point
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verb
Usage
What does steeplechase mean? Steeplechase is a kind of horse race in which horses with riders race through a course that includes obstacles like hedges, hurdles, and water-filled ditches. There is also a non-equestrian event (for humans, not horses) that’s also called the steeplechase. This steeplechase takes its name from the horse race, but it’s a track-and-field event that consists of a race around a track featuring hurdles, barriers, and water pits. This is an event at the Summer Olympic Games, where the race length is 3,000 meters. A competitor in either version of steeplechase can be called a steeplechaser. Example: Whether you’re a horse or a human, you have to be incredibly athletic to compete in the steeplechase.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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steeplechasesimple
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steeplechasessimple
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have steeplechasedperfect
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has steeplechasedperfect
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am steeplechasingprogressive
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are steeplechasingprogressive
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is steeplechasingprogressive
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have been steeplechasingperfect progressive
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has been steeplechasingperfect progressive
Past
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steeplechasedsimple
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had steeplechasedperfect
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was steeplechasingprogressive
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were steeplechasingprogressive
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had been steeplechasingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of steeplechase
First recorded in 1790–1800; steeple + chase 1; so called because the course was kept by sighting a church steeple as the goal
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The 78-year-old Englishman guided Portsmouth to 2008 FA Cup glory but Friday's win in a steeplechase, considered only second in prestige to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will probably share pride of place in his life.
From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025
New Zealand's Geordie Beamish falls on the last lap of his 3,000m steeplechase heat but recovers to finish second and qualify for the final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2025
If Liam ever wants to learn about running, he always can consult with his cousin, James Corrigan, an Eagle Rock grad who finished 31st in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Paris Olympics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2024
Lizzie Bird dug deep to make sure she finished in the first five of her women's 3,000m steeplechase heat and booked her place in the final, which is also on Tuesday.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2024
Dozens of fans bristled over the tops of the steeplechase fences, leaving them teetering under the weight.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Winning in a time of eight minutes 6.05 seconds, the 28-year-old mirrored the achievement of Finland's Volmari Iso-Hollo, who won back-to-back steeplechases in 1932 and 1936.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024
Formulaic action scenes became riotous steeplechases as Zorro surmounted obstacles with somersaults and handsprings, sometimes pausing for a snack.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2020
These pieces are bracing, argumentative and engineered to show the range of the group members: fulminous, intense collective improvisation; rapid, chromatic steeplechases; research into long tones and textures.
From New York Times ● Sep. 26, 2014
The experienced Muir was quick to accept that teenage horses can perform well in steeplechases and admitted that he did not "know a great deal about this horse, physically".
From The Guardian ● Dec. 13, 2012
People who talk about the jumps in steeplechases at home being hard should try a run over a colonial course of 4-feet-6-inch post and rails.
From Town Life in Australia by Twopeny, Richard Ernest Nowell
My blood steeplechased in my veins as I waited for him to deal me the hand that might decide my fate.
From Frenzied Finance Vol. 1: The Crime of Amalgamated by Lawson, Thomas William
I've steeplechased, raced, and 'run horses', but I think the most dashing of all Was the ride when the old fellow saved me from Gilbert, O'Maley and Hall!
From Rio Grande's Last Race & Other Verses by Paterson, A. B. (Andrew Barton)
Where before life had glided, now it steeplechased, taking its days bull-headed, and Paul grew to the age of four as a bamboo grows, in leaps.
From The Second Class Passenger Fifteen Stories by Gibbon, Perceval
The collection, housed in Vine Hill, a red-brick house built in 1804 and its Federal revival addition, represents subjects related to equestrian pursuits such as thoroughbred racing, dressage, eventing, steeplechasing and polo.
From New York Times ● Mar. 13, 2018
Until now, says Fenwick’s brother Charles, a five-time winner of the race, the steeplechasing community “has done zero to reach out.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2015
He thrived as first jockey for leading British trainer Paul Nicholls where he enjoyed rides on steeplechasing greats Kauto Star and Denman, and outstanding hurdler Big Buck's.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2015
And nor is he the only superstar from steeplechasing history in this clip.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 23, 2010
He then joined the First Life Guards, and spent much of his spare time steeplechasing.
From McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 5, October 1893 by Various
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.
