steer
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to guide the course of (something in motion) by a rudder, helm, wheel, etc..
to steer a bicycle.
-
to follow or pursue (a particular course).
-
to direct the course of; guide.
I can steer you to the best restaurant in town.
verb (used without object)
-
to direct the course of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, or the like, by the use of a rudder or other means.
-
to pursue a course of action.
-
(of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, etc.) to be steered or guided in a particular direction or manner.
noun
idioms
noun
-
steers,
plural
-
steer
plural
verb (used with or without object)
verb
-
to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc
-
(tr) to guide with tuition
his teachers steered him through his exams
-
(tr) to direct the movements or course of (a person, conversation, etc)
-
to pursue (a specified course)
-
(intr) (of a vessel, vehicle, etc) to admit of being guided in a specified fashion
this boat does not steer properly
-
to keep away from; shun
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of steer1
First recorded before 900; Middle English steren, stere, stieren, Old English stēoran, stēran, stíoran, stýran, akin to stēor, stýr “steering, guidance”; cognate with German steuern, Old Norse stȳra, Gothic stiurjan
Origin of steer2
First recorded before 900; Middle English ster(e), Old English stēor “young bull or ox,” cognate with Dutch, German Stier, Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur
Explanation
In defining steer, I would steer clear of complicated examples and just say: to steer is to control which direction one is going. Everyone who owns a car has learned to point his car in the right direction using the steering wheel. It's a bad idea to let your five year-old steer; you might end up in a sandbox. But the use of steer doesn't need to be limited to wheels and handle bars. If you have a friend torn between whether or not to go to college, you can help steer her towards the right decision. The President's job is "to steer the Ship of State."
Vocabulary lists containing steer
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
David Cameron's Words After the Brexit Vote
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 10
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Cutting the number of rate decisions by a quarter would leave fewer opportunities to steer expectations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Kress now has to steer Nvidia through that avalanche—and a bigger one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
He is accused of using his influence as president to steer millions in government deposits to Ueno and of hiding or downplaying its financial woes despite warnings about questionable loans and solvency issues.
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026
Supporters call three weekly meetings inefficient and costly, arguing fewer full sessions would free council members to work in their districts and steer more detailed public debate into committee hearings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
Xander says to Rania while she is checking the code that will help me to steer once I am connected to my wheels again.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Mr. Halldorf steers a careful middle way between internet enthusiasts and technophobes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
When Raman asks him what can be done to keep the entertainment industry centered in Los Angeles, Chandrasekaran said he often steers her to the leaders of his union, the Writers Guild of America West.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
He steers clear of healthcare providers or nursing homes catering to aging populations — “basically a fast-maturing and bad hedge to inflation” that won’t easily pass on rising costs to those residents.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
In the face of such instability, I'll opt for Sean McVay as he steers the Rams to their third Super Bowl title.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
The stroke sits directly in front of and face-to-face with the coxswain, who faces the bow and steers the shell.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
