steer

[ steer ]

/ stɪər /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: steer / steered / steering on Thesaurus.com

verb (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

Informal. a suggestion about a course of action; tip: He got a good steer about finding the right job.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about steer

steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid: She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.

Origin of steer

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

OTHER WORDS FROM steer

steer·a·ble, adjectivesteer·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·steer·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for steer (2 of 3)

steer²

[ steer ]

/ stɪər /

noun, plural steers, (especially collectively) steer.

a male bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity, especially one raised for beef.

Origin of steer

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

Other definitions for steer (3 of 3)

steer³

[ steer ]

/ stɪər /

verb (used with or without object), noun British Dialect.

stir¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use steer in a sentence

Jillian is now paralyzed from the neck down, steers her motorized wheelchair with her tongue and is kept alive by a ventilator.
House Subcommittee Says Proposed Booster Seat Safety Rules Fall Short|by Patricia Callahan|November 19, 2020|ProPublica
Dias also says has also been steering his clients in this direction long before the update was announced.
What to evaluate ahead of Google’s Page Experience update|George Nguyen|November 18, 2020|Search Engine Land
Zuckerberg, in response to Feinstein’s attack on Twitter, pointed out that Facebook had added voter information atop users’ news feeds to steer them to credible sources, regardless of what their friends had posted on the service.
Senators attack Facebook and Twitter over labeling election misinformation|Danielle Abril|November 17, 2020|Fortune
In some cases, such a switch might also require an office visit — at a time when Americans have been steering clear of the doctor’s office out of concerns about the pandemic.
Amazon Pharmacy is live: Shoppers can now order prescriptions directly through the tech giant|Rachel Schallom|November 17, 2020|Fortune

Elliott and Kiel detailed how the website steers lower-income tax filers to paid versions of its service.
Two ProPublica Projects Win Loeb Awards|by ProPublica|November 13, 2020|ProPublica
That goodness steered him clear of the Sex Boys, the Crazy Homicides, the Sons of Nuns, and the other gangs of East New York.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You meant to chase every glass of wine with a pitcher of H2O, but the holiday cheer somehow steered you off course.
5 Hangover Cures to Save You After a Few Too Many|DailyBurn|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet, by and large, candidates have steered clear of criminal justice reform this election cycle.
Why Isn’t Prison Justice on the Ballot This Tuesday?|Inimai Chettiar, Abigail Finkelman|November 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Several stubborn ideas have steered much of the discourse around health care.
Can Fitbit Data Save Lives?|Daniela Drake|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Imagine a drone skimming above the ocean waves, steered by scientists on a research ship in the distance.
Soon We’ll Be Watching Whales By Drone|Abigail Golden|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They steered for the southern point of Angel Island, and Gwynne looked about him with much interest.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Shiv steered into the wash room, and the doors dropped back into place.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
The next morning (11th) we left Hanover Bay and steered out at the distance of a mile and a half from the western shore.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
Accordingly after weighing, we steered off by the wind, and directed our course for Mauritius.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
At daybreak we steered in for the land but ran twenty-two miles before it was seen.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King

British Dictionary definitions for steer (1 of 2)

steer¹

/ (stɪə) /

verb

to direct the course of (a vehicle or vessel) with a steering wheel, rudder, etc

(tr) to guide with tuitionhis 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 fashionthis boat does not steer properly

steer clear of to keep away from; shun

noun

mainly US information; guidance (esp in the phrase a bum steer)

Derived forms of steer

steerable, adjectivesteerer, noun

Word Origin for steer

Old English stieran; related to Old Frisian stiūra, Old Norse stӯra, German stevern; see starboard, stern ²

British Dictionary definitions for steer (2 of 2)

steer²

/ (stɪə) /

noun

a castrated male ox or bull; bullock

Word Origin for steer

Old English stēor; related to Old Norse stjōrr, Gothic stiur, Old High German stior, Middle Dutch stēr

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with steer

steer

In addition to the idiom beginning with steer

steer clear of

also see:

bum steer

steer

Idioms about steer

Origin of steer

OTHER WORDS FROM steer

Other definitions for steer (2 of 3)

Origin of steer

Other definitions for steer (3 of 3)

Words related to steer

How to use steer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for steer (1 of 2)

Derived forms of steer

Word Origin for steer

British Dictionary definitions for steer (2 of 2)

Word Origin for steer

Other Idioms and Phrases with steer