steer
1 Americanverb (used with object)
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to guide the course of (something in motion) by a rudder, helm, wheel, etc..
to steer a bicycle.
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to follow or pursue (a particular course).
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to direct the course of; guide.
I can steer you to the best restaurant in town.
verb (used without object)
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to direct the course of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, or the like, by the use of a rudder or other means.
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to pursue a course of action.
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(of a vessel, vehicle, airplane, etc.) to be steered or guided in a particular direction or manner.
noun
idioms
noun
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steers,
plural
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steer
plural
verb (used with or without object)
verb
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to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc
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(tr) to guide with tuition
his teachers steered him through his exams
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(tr) to direct the movements or course of (a person, conversation, etc)
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to pursue (a specified course)
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(intr) (of a vessel, vehicle, etc) to admit of being guided in a specified fashion
this boat does not steer properly
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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"
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David Cameron's Words After the Brexit Vote
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 10
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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:
Xi, through a translator, told Trump: “I am ready to work with you to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations on a steady course toward the future.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
It also warned the top priority for the bidders, called London & Valley Water, was to "extract immediate value from Thames Water, not steer it to long-term success".
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
“I could just tell she knew how to steer an SUV in the snow,” Dunham wrote in Vogue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Some steer policy decisions, while others help lenders determine how much someone can borrow.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
“I’m fine with dogs,” Inkling claims, “but the rootbeer is another story. I have to steer clear of her.”
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
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
Some researchers have even argued for a “Halloween indicator,” which steers clear of stocks until after Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Lucas Dvorak, 22, uses AI all the time but steers clear of it when he texts his girlfriend.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Taking a cue from nickelodeon piano players, composer John Powell steers the mood with a vibrantly eclectic score of sprightly ragtime, violin pathos and popcorn crescendos.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Henry takes us out of reverse and steers us down the proper path, but not long after we begin our new route, the channel forks again.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
