steam

1.nounA2

Definition

the white mist that rises from very hot water as it reaches boiling temperature

Example

Steam rose from the kettle as Kabir poured hot water into his cup.

steam + rises from [source]

The bathroom mirror was covered with steam after Madison's long shower.

collocation: covered with steam

Common collocations

steam rises
steam comes out of
covered in steam
billows of steam
steam engine
steam turbine

Synonyms

vapor
more general term; includes invisible gas as well as visible mist
mist
focuses on the visible cloud of tiny water droplets rather than the hot gas itself
condensation
refers specifically to the water that forms on a cool surface when steam touches it

Usage Note

Can appear in figurative idioms such as 'run out of steam' (lose energy) and 'let off steam' (release anger). As an uncountable noun, 'steams' is rare and usually refers to different types of vapor.

Common Mistakes

I could see the steams coming from the pot.

I could see steam coming from the pot.

steam is uncountable and does not usually take a plural form.

Idioms

blow/let off steam

idiom

To release strong feelings like anger or excitement by doing something active or loud.

After the exam, Maya went for a run to blow off steam.

Diego let off steam by shouting at his video game.

full speed/steam ahead | (at) full steam

idiom

With the greatest possible speed or effort.

The project is moving full steam ahead toward the deadline.

The factory is operating at full steam to meet demand.

get, etc. somewhere under your own steam

idiom

To reach a place using your own effort, without help from others.

Sara got to the meeting under her own steam despite the rain.

Can you get to the airport under your own steam?

get up/pick up steam

idiom

To start becoming more powerful, active, or successful.

The charity campaign is picking up steam after the celebrity endorsement.

Her business got up steam quickly with online sales.

head of steam

idiom

The pressure or force that builds up inside a steam engine or in a process.

The old locomotive built up a good head of steam before climbing the hill.

The political movement gathered a head of steam after the protest.

run out of steam

idiom

To lose the energy or motivation to continue doing something.

The runner ran out of steam halfway through the marathon.

Our team ran out of steam in the second half of the game.

1.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

to travel by a boat or train whose engine gets its energy from steam produced by boiling water

Example

The old train steamed through the countryside, carrying goods to the capital.

steam + through [location]

In the 1800s, passengers steamed from Europe to America in about two weeks.

Common collocations

steam across
steam through
steam into
steam up
steam along

Synonyms

sail
for ships; emphasizes wind power instead of steam
travel
general and neutral; no reference to how the journey happens

Grammar Patterns

steam + adverb

steam + preposition + place

Usage Note

Almost always used in historical or literary contexts. In modern everyday language, people are more likely to say 'went by train' or 'sailed.' Subject is typically a ship, train, or locomotive, not a person.

Common Mistakes

We steamed to the airport by taxi.

We steamed across the lake on a historic steamboat.

this sense only applies to steam-powered vehicles, not modern transportation.

2.verbtransitiveA2

Definition

to cook food by placing it above boiling water so the hot mist rises around it and makes it soft and ready to eat

Example

Sayaka steamed the fish with ginger and soy sauce for Sunday dinner.

steam + [food] with [seasoning]

Ilan prefers to steam his vegetables rather than boil or fry them.

Common collocations

steam vegetables
steam fish
steam rice
steam dumplings
gently steam

Synonyms

boil
food is placed directly in hot water, not above it
poach
food is cooked in simmering liquid, not in rising steam

Antonyms

fry
cooks food in hot oil rather than in steam
roast
cooks food with dry heat in an oven

Grammar Patterns

steam + food

Usage Note

Often used with specific foods as direct object: fish, vegetables, rice, and dumplings are common. Many Asian cuisines feature steaming as a primary cooking method.

Common Mistakes

She steamed the water to cook the eggs.

She steamed the eggs in a special basket.

you steam the food, not the water.

3.verbtransitiveB1

Definition

to direct hot steam at a surface so that glue becomes soft and you can remove something such as wallpaper, a stamp, or wrinkles from clothing

Example

Élise steamed the old wallpaper off the kitchen walls before painting.

steam + [object] off [surface]

Pedro steamed the wrinkled suit jacket before his important job interview.

Common collocations

steam off
steam open
steam out
steam wallpaper
steam a stamp
steam wrinkles

Synonyms

remove
general verb; does not indicate the use of steam
loosen
focuses on softening the glue rather than completing the removal

Grammar Patterns

steam + object + off/from

Usage Note

The particle 'off' is common when removing something attached by glue ('steam off wallpaper'). 'Out of' is used for wrinkles. A garment steamer or steam iron is the typical tool.

Common Mistakes

She steamed the paint off the door.

She steamed the wallpaper off the wall.

steaming works on glue-based adhesives, not paint.

4.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

to send out visible white mist, especially when a hot surface or liquid meets cooler air

Example

The hot soup steamed on the table, filling the room with a rich smell.

Romi's breath steamed in the cold morning air as she walked to school.

breath + steams in cold air

Common collocations

breath steams
soup steams
pavement steams
steam in the cold

Synonyms

smoke
suggests fire or burning, not water vapor
fog up
phrasal verb; describes a surface becoming covered with condensation, not the vapor rising

Grammar Patterns

something steams

steam + adverb/prepositional phrase

Usage Note

The subject is usually something warm or hot that produces visible mist when it meets cooler conditions. Common subjects include breath on a cold day, hot food, wet ground in sunshine, and boiling water.

5.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to feel extremely angry, especially when you keep the anger inside and do not show it or express it directly

Example

Darius was steaming when he discovered someone had taken his reserved seat.

informal: was + steaming + when/because

An hour after the argument, Kabir was still steaming about the unfair criticism.

Common collocations

be steaming
get steaming
steaming mad
steaming about
steaming over

Synonyms

fume
suggests visible irritation; more outwardly expressive than steaming
seethe
implies intense silent anger held inside over a long period
boil
anger at the point of nearly exploding; slightly stronger than steaming

Antonyms

calm down
phrasal verb; opposite emotional state
relax
general opposite of any strong negative emotion

Grammar Patterns

someone is/was steaming

Usage Note

Common in informal conversation. Almost always appears in the progressive form ('was steaming,' 'is steaming'). The related adjective 'steamed' is also used informally to mean angry, as in 'I was so steamed.'

Common Mistakes

I am steaming from the hot weather.

I am steaming because the waiter ignored us for an hour.

'steaming' for anger requires a person or situation as the cause, not temperature.

Word family

steamer
nounB1
steamy
adjectiveB2
steaming
adjectiveB2
steamed
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/5

All four words describe strong anger, but they differ in how visible and active the anger is. 'Steam' suggests silent, contained anger — the person is upset but may not show it openly. 'Fume' implies more visible irritation: a fuming person might mutter, pace, or show clear signs of displeasure. 'Seethe' points to intense anger that is deliberately held inside, often over a long period, like a pot about to boil. 'Boil' is stronger than steaming — it suggests anger that is close to exploding outward. 'Rage' is the most intense and active, often involving shouting or aggressive behavior. For example, you might say 'Kabir was steaming after the unfair criticism' (silent anger inside), but 'Kabir raged at his boss' would mean he shouted and lost control.

fume ↗seetheboil ↗rage ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

pick up steam
run out of steam
let off steam
under your own steam
full steam ahead

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

Steam comes from the Old English word 'stēam,' which meant the mist or vapor produced by heat. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch 'stoom' (steam) and German 'Dampf' (vapor). The use of steam to power engines during the Industrial Revolution, starting around the 1700s, gave rise to new meanings related to travel (verb sense 1) and later to cooking and household applications. The informal meaning of 'being very angry' emerged in the 1900s, drawing on the image of pressure building up inside a steam engine.

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steam

steam — noun

1. the white mist that rises from very hot water as it reaches boiling temperature

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

blow/let off steam

full speed/steam ahead | (at) full steam

get, etc. somewhere under your own steam

get up/pick up steam

head of steam

run out of steam

steam — verb

1. to travel by a boat or train whose engine gets its energy from steam produced by

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to cook food by placing it above boiling water so the hot mist rises around it a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to direct hot steam at a surface so that glue becomes soft and you can remove so

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

4. to send out visible white mist, especially when a hot surface or liquid meets co

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

5. to feel extremely angry, especially when you keep the anger inside and do not sh

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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