steer
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈstir 
1
: a male bovine animal and especially a domestic ox (Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity compare stag sense 3
2
: an ox less than four years old
steer
2 of 4verb
steered; steering; steers
transitive 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)
intransitive verb
1
: to direct the course (as of a ship or automobile)
2
: to pursue a course of action
3
: to be subject to steering
the car steers well
steerable
ˈstir-ə-bəl
adjective steerer noun
steer
3 of 4noun (2)
: a hint as to procedure : tip
steer
4 of 4dialectal British variant of stir
Synonyms
Verb
- conduct
- direct
- guide
- lead
- marshal
- marshall
- pilot
- route
- show
- usher
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb She steered the ship through the strait. He steered his car carefully into the parking space. He steered the wheelchair through the aisles. Skillful navigators can steer by the positions of the stars. The car was steering right at us. The boat steered out to sea. He tried to steer the conversation away from his recent problems. She skillfully steered the bill through the legislature. He steered the team to another championship last year. The high recent returns on stocks have steered many investors away from bonds. See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English stēor young ox; akin to Old High German stior young ox
Verb
Middle English steren, from Old English stīeran; akin to Old English stēor- steering oar, Greek stauros stake, cross, stylos pillar, Sanskrit sthavira, sthūra stout, thick
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1894, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing steer
Kids Definition
steer 1 of 2
verb
ˈstir
steered; steering
1
: to make a vehicle move in a particular direction
steer a boat
… she didn't even try to steer around the bumps and holes.
Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control2
: to guide or change the direction of something
I tried to steer the conversation away from politics.
3
: to follow a course of action
She steers clear of gossip.
steer
2 of 2noun
: a castrated bull usually raised for beef
Legal Definition
steer
transitive verb
: to subject to steering
real estate agents steering Latino buyers
steered
verb
1
as in guided
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- guided
- led
- directed
- ushered
- accompanied
- piloted
- conducted
- escorted
- showed
- routed
- marshaled
- marshalled
- preceded
- controlled
- managed
- chaperoned
- attended
- saw
- convoyed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- trailed
- followed
- shadowed
- hounded
- dogged
- tailed
- tailgated
2
as in piloted
to operate or control the course of first needed to learn how to steer her personal watercraft before going out on the crowded lake Synonyms & Similar Words
- piloted
- navigated
- hijacked
- helmed
- commandeered
- conned
- highjacked