# steer

/ˈstɪɹ/ (US) · /stˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/steer
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to drive or guide a vehicle

verb · CEFR B1

to control the direction of a car, boat, or bicycle using a wheel or handle.

For teachers: to control the course of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft by means of a steering mechanism.

- It is difficult to steer the boat when the wind is blowing this hard.
- The novice driver struggled to steer the car through the narrow, winding alleyways of the old town without clipping the mirrors.

Usage: The verb can be used transitively with the vehicle as the object or intransitively.

### 2. to guide a person or topic

verb · CEFR B2

to influence someone or a conversation to go in a certain direction.

For teachers: to maneuver or manipulate a person, group, or discussion toward a specific course of action or subject.

- The teacher tried to steer the students away from the topic of the exam.
- The CEO skillfully managed to steer the board of directors toward a more sustainable long-term investment strategy.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'towards' or 'away from'.

### 3. a piece of advice

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a helpful suggestion or piece of information about what you should do.

For teachers: a piece of advice or information concerning a potential course of action.

- Can you give me a steer on which laptop I should buy?
- He gave me a useful steer on the upcoming merger, suggesting that I wait for the official announcement before selling my shares.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'give someone a steer'.

### 4. a male cow

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a young male cow that has been operated on so it cannot father calves, usually raised for meat.

For teachers: a castrated male of the cattle family, typically one raised for beef production.

- The farmer moved the steers into the lower field for the summer.
- The rancher specialized in raising high-quality steers for the premium organic beef market.

## Examples

- He gave me a good steer on which car to buy.
- I was unsure which department to contact, but the receptionist gave me a helpful steer toward the legal team.
- The consultant's report provided a useful steer for the board of directors, helping them navigate the complexities of the recent merger without losing sight of their primary objectives.

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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.