# steam

/ˈstim/ (US) · /stˈiːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/steam
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. water vapour

noun · CEFR B1

the hot mist or gas that rises from boiling water.

For teachers: the hot gaseous form of water or the visible cloud of condensate formed when water vapour meets cooler air.

- Be careful when you open the pot, as the hot steam can burn your skin.
- A thick cloud of steam rose from the geothermal vent, obscuring the hikers' view of the valley floor for several minutes.

### 2. energy or momentum

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the energy or speed you have when doing something.

For teachers: metaphorical energy, momentum, or motive power required for progress.

- The project started well, but it began to lose steam after the first month.
- The campaign gained significant steam following the endorsement from the local community leaders, leading to a surge in volunteer applications.

### 5. to move with force

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to move somewhere very quickly and with a lot of energy or anger.

For teachers: to move with great purposefulness or speed, often implying a lack of regard for obstacles.

- He was so angry that he steamed out of the room without saying goodbye.
- The heavy locomotive steamed through the countryside, its rhythmic chugging audible from miles away across the open plains.

### 6. to mist up

verb · CEFR B2

to become covered in tiny drops of water so you cannot see through it.

For teachers: to become covered with condensed water vapour, typically referring to glass surfaces.

- The bathroom mirror always steams up when I take a hot shower.
- The car windows began to steam up rapidly as the temperature outside dropped, forcing the driver to turn on the defroster.

## Examples

- Steam rises from the hot cup of tea.
- Be careful when you lift the lid off the pot, as the hot steam can burn your skin.
- The chef used a bamboo basket to cook the dumplings in steam, a method that preserves the delicate texture of the dough without adding extra fats.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.