steer
1to 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.
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.
Informal. a suggestion about a course of action; tip: He got a good steer about finding the right job.
Idioms about steer
steer clear of, to stay away from purposely; avoid: She steered clear of any deep emotional involvements.
Origin of steer
1Other words from steer
- steer·a·ble, adjective
- steer·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- un·steer·a·ble, adjective
Other definitions for steer (2 of 3)
a male bovine that is castrated before sexual maturity, especially one raised for beef.
Origin of steer
2Other definitions for steer (3 of 3)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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 | ProPublicaDias 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 LandZuckerberg, 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 | FortuneIn 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 | FortuneElliott and Kiel detailed how the website steers lower-income tax filers to paid versions of its service.
That goodness steered him clear of the Sex Boys, the Crazy Homicides, the Sons of Nuns, and the other gangs of East New York.
You meant to chase every glass of wine with a pitcher of H2O, but the holiday cheer somehow steered you off course.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTSeveral stubborn ideas have steered much of the discourse around health care.
Imagine a drone skimming above the ocean waves, steered by scientists on a research ship in the distance.
They steered for the southern point of Angel Island, and Gwynne looked about him with much interest.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonShiv steered into the wash room, and the doors dropped back into place.
The next morning (11th) we left Hanover Bay and steered out at the distance of a mile and a half from the western shore.
Accordingly after weighing, we steered off by the wind, and directed our course for Mauritius.
At daybreak we steered in for the land but ran twenty-two miles before it was seen.
British Dictionary definitions for steer (1 of 2)
/ (stɪə) /
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
steer clear of to keep away from; shun
mainly US information; guidance (esp in the phrase a bum steer)
Origin of steer
1Derived forms of steer
- steerable, adjective
- steerer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for steer (2 of 2)
/ (stɪə) /
a castrated male ox or bull; bullock
Origin of steer
2Collins 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
In addition to the idiom beginning with steer
- steer clear of
also see:
- bum steer
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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