Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Steep Meaning: Examples for Slopes & Prices (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：sharply inclined (steep)

steep 🔊

/stiːp/

adj.

A slope or hill that goes up or down very quickly, not gently.

Person climbing steep grassy hillside struggling with sharp incline

sharply inclined 🔊

➕

/ˈʃɑːrpli ɪnˈklaɪnd/

adj.

Describes a slope or incline that is almost vertical, making it difficult to climb.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'stēap' meaning 'high, lofty', related to German 'steil' for steep.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'step' that is so high you must pull yourself up — that's a steep step.

📖 Example

We had to stop and catch our breath halfway up the steep mountain trail. 🔊 We needed to pause and rest halfway while climbing the steep mountain path.

🔗 Collocations

steep slope – A sharply angled incline on a surface.

steep hill – A hill with a very sharp upward gradient.

steep climb – An ascent that requires great effort due to a high angle.

🔄 Synonyms

sheer (adj.) – Almost vertical; extremely steep.

abrupt (adj.) – Marked by a sudden and sharp change in gradient.

precipitous (adj.) – Dangerously high or steep, like a cliff.

🚫 Antonyms

gentle (adj.) – Having a moderate, not steep slope.

gradual (adj.) – Changing slowly over distance, not sharply.

shallow (adj.) – Having a small angle of incline.

🌱 Derivatives

steeply (adv.) – In a steep manner; at a sharp angle.

steepness (n.) – The quality or state of being steep.

📖 Cultural Story

In Old English, 'stēap' described a towering height. Today, it commonly appears in hiking contexts for terrain and metaphorically in finance for high prices, e.g., 'steep fees'.

Meaning 2：excessively high (steep)

steep 🔊

/stiːp/

adj.

A price that is very high, much higher than you think is reasonable.

Hand holding high price tag showing steep cost with surprised reflection

excessively high 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈsɛsɪvli haɪ/

adj.

Used to describe a price that is much higher than what is considered reasonable or affordable.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I really want that new phone, but the price is too steep for my budget right now. 🔊 I really desire that new phone, but its cost is too high for my current budget.

🔗 Collocations

steep price – A very high cost for a product or service.

steep cost – An expense that is unreasonably large.

steep fee – A charge that is exorbitantly high.

🔄 Synonyms

exorbitant (adj.) – Greatly exceeding what is fair or reasonable.

sky-high (adj.) – Extremely high, often beyond what is normal.

outrageous (adj.) – Shockingly high or unfair.

🚫 Antonyms

reasonable (adj.) – Fair and not too high in price.

affordable (adj.) – Within one's financial means.

cheap (adj.) – Low in price; not expensive.

🌱 Derivatives

steeply (adv.) – Used with prices to mean 'very much so' (e.g., prices rose steeply).