# steering

/ˈstɪɹɪŋ/ (US) · /stˈiəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. vehicle control system

noun · CEFR B1

the equipment in a vehicle, like a car or boat, that you use to control its direction.

For teachers: the mechanism or system of components used to control the direction of a vehicle or vessel. Uncountable in this mechanical sense.

- The steering on my old car feels a bit loose when I turn corners.
- Modern power steering systems use hydraulic or electric actuators to reduce the physical effort required by the driver to turn the wheels.

Usage: Often used as a compound noun, such as 'steering wheel' or 'steering column'.

### 2. guiding or directing

verb · CEFR B2

the act of controlling the direction of a vehicle or a project.

For teachers: the present participle or gerund of 'steer', referring to the act of directing a vehicle or managing the course of an organisation.

- Steering a large ship through a narrow canal requires a lot of skill.
- Steering the company through the financial crisis required the CEO to make several difficult decisions regarding staff reductions.

Usage: As a gerund, it can function as the subject or object of a sentence.

## Examples

- The steering on this old car feels very heavy.
- The driver lost control of the vehicle when the steering failed on a sharp turn.
- Modern power-assisted steering systems use hydraulic or electric actuators to reduce the physical effort required by the driver, especially during low-speed manoeuvres like parallel parking.

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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.