steep

/stip/
noun
  1. A steep place; a slope or cliff.
    • The car rolled down the steep and crashed into a tree.
    • We had to climb a steep to reach the ancient ruins.
    • The path led to a steep that dropped into the valley below.
verb
  1. To soak something in a liquid, especially to extract flavor or soften it.
    • The recipe says to steep the rice in water overnight before cooking.
    • Let the tea bags steep in hot water for three minutes.
    • She steeped the dried herbs in oil to make a fragrant mixture.
  2. To be fully immersed in or surrounded by something (often a quality or experience).
    • Her novels are steeped in mystery and suspense.
    • The town is steeped in history and tradition.
    • He steeped himself in the local culture during his travels.
Synonyms
adjective
  1. Rising or falling at a sharp angle; not gradual.
    • Our driveway is so steep that cars sometimes scrape the bottom.
    • The hikers struggled to climb the steep mountain trail.
    • She looked down from the steep cliff and felt dizzy.
  2. (of a price or amount) very high; more than is reasonable.
    • The rent for this apartment is steep, but the location is great.
    • I wanted to buy the concert tickets, but the fees made the total too steep.
    • The restaurant's prices are a bit steep for a casual dinner.
  3. (of a change or increase) sudden and large.
    • A steep learning curve means you'll have to study hard at first.
    • There has been a steep rise in the cost of groceries this year.
    • The company saw a steep drop in sales after the scandal.
Antonyms