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.
No top weight has won the world's greatest steeplechase since triple victor Red Rum in 1974.
From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026
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
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
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
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
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.
