Steer Meaning
/stɪə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel).
verbTo be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm.
Sentence Examples
Of course you can trust me. Have I ever given you a bum steer before?
You must steer clear of that gang.
We all need a star to steer our lives by.
CEFR Practice Quiz
You must ____ the car very carefully around the sharp curve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You need to ____ the car carefully through the narrow gates to avoid scratching the sides today.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English steeren, steren, stiren, sturen, steoren, from Old English stēoran, stīeran, stȳran (“to steer; guide a vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *stiurijan (“to steer”), from Proto-Germanic *stiurijaną (“to steer”). The noun is from Middle English steere, stere (“rudder”), steor, from Old English stēor, stȳr (“steering; guidance; direction”). Compare Dutch stuur, German Steuer, Icelandic stýri.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I leap on board: no helmsman steers: I float till all is dark."
— 1842, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Sir Galahad:
"Where the wind / Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail."
— 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 9:
"Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw's cross after 75 minutes to send England's fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, into wild celebrations."
— 2021 June 29, Phil McNulty, “England 2-0 Germany”, in BBC Sport:
"I tried to give you the steer, but I guess I didn't get it over. Everybody knew it but you."
— 1939, Mark Hellinger, The Roaring Twenties:
"He counted the cattle over and over. It diverted him to speculate as to how much weight each of the steers would probably put on by spring."
— 1913, Willa Cather, O Pioneers!, chapter 2:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
You must ____ the car very carefully around the sharp curve.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You need to ____ the car carefully through the narrow gates to avoid scratching the sides today.