Steer — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈstir/

Meaning & Definition of Steer

Steer (noun)

  1. a male bovine animal and especially a domestic ox (Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity
  2. an ox less than four years old
  3. a hint as to procedure, tip

Steer (verb)

  1. to control the course of, direct; especially, to guide by mechanical means (such as a rudder)
  2. to set and hold to (a course)
  3. to direct the course (as of a ship or automobile)

Steer (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front

    "the man in the train station was able to steer us in the right direction"

    similar: conduct, direct, guide, lead, marshal, pilot, route, show, usher
    related: precede, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, control, manage
    opposite: follow, trail
    near: dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

  2. to operate or control the course of

    "first needed to learn how to steer her personal watercraft before going out on the crowded lake"

    similar: conn, helm, navigate, pilot
    related: commandeer, hijack

Related Entry: Steer clear of (phrase)

Steer clear of is a different word from Steer. The synonyms below are for steer clear of, not for steer.

  1. to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery

    "After several disastrous family gatherings, she steered clear of any talk about hosting holiday celebrations."

    similar: avoid, dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, finesse, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of), fight shy of, keep clear of, stay clear of
    related: miss, avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off), ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, preclude, rule out, bypass, circumvent, skirt, foil, fox, frustrate, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach, thwart
    near: accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome, catch, contract, incur

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Steer

The most common words with a similar meaning to Steer:

conduct, direct, guide, lead, marshal, pilot, route, show, usher, conn, helm, navigate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Steer

Words with the opposite meaning of Steer:

follow, trail

Related Words for Steer

precede, accompany, attend, chaperone, convoy, escort, see, control, manage, commandeer, hijack

Near Antonyms of Steer

dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

Word Forms of Steer

Inflections: steered, steering, steers

Derived words: steerable (adjective), steerer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Steer

Middle English, from Old English stēor young ox; akin to Old High German stior young ox

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Steer

Words & Phrases Containing Steer

steer clear, steer (someone) wrong

Frequently Asked Questions about Steer

What does "Steer" mean?

"Steer" means a male bovine animal and especially a domestic ox (Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a male bovine animal and especially a domestic ox (Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Steer"?

Other words for "Steer" include conduct, direct, guide, lead, marshal, pilot, route and show. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Steer" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Steer"?

There are 23 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Steer". Common alternatives include conduct, direct, guide, lead, marshal, pilot, route, show, usher and conn.

What is the opposite of "Steer"?

Antonyms of "Steer" include follow and trail. Near antonyms include dog, hound, shadow and tail.

How do you use "Steer" in a sentence?

Examples of "Steer" in a sentence: "the man in the train station was able to steer us in the right direction"; "first needed to learn how to steer her personal watercraft before going out on the crowded lake".

Is "Steer" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Steer" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Steer" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Steer" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Steer"?

"Steer" is pronounced /ˈstir/.