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)
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steeplechases,
present (3rd person singular)
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steeplechased,
past participle, past
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steeplechasing
present participle
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
Emilee Chinn: Geordie Beamish is shown going down after getting caught in the congestion of the early laps of the 3,000m steeplechase at the World Championships.
From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2025
Tade Ojora triumphed in the men's 110m hurdles in 13.34, Phil Norman retained the men's 3000m steeplechase title in 8:40.47, and Cam Corbishley and Hannah Hopper won the men's and women's 5,000m race walks respectively.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2025
McColgan took part in the steeplechase at Glasgow 2014 before switching to the flat.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2025
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 eight-year-old has never finished outside of the first two in steeplechases bar an uncharacteristic jumping lapse at Aintree.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 5, 2011
I believe if I was in the habit of attending low pigeon matches, dog fights, or steeplechases, in the "Harrow County," I should recognize most of them enjoying the spectacle of such diversions.
From Kate Coventry An Autobiography by Whyte-Melville, G. J.
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
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
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)
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
The key here is that Fingal Bay has already had some experience of steeplechasing having won on his debut over fences in eye-catching fashion at Chepstow last month.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 16, 2012
It has always been a hunting, steeplechasing, and generally a sporting centre.
From Social Transformations of the Victorian Age A Survey of Court and Country by Escott, T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet)
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.
