What does steepen mean?
Steepen means to become steeper or to make something steeper. Its literal use refers to slopes, roads, paths, or other surfaces that rise at an increasing angle: “The trail steepens after the bridge.” In figurative use, it describes the growing severity of circumstances, such as costs, competition, pressure, or inequality. The verb can be transitive, as in “developers steepened the gradient,” or intransitive, as in “prices steepen during peak demand.” It is more precise than the broader intensify because it suggests a rise in steepness or difficulty, but it is also less common in casual speech. Related forms include the noun steepness and the adverb steeply, both of which are especially useful in descriptions of terrain and gradients.
verbTo become steeper, or to make something steeper. It can also refer figuratively to an increase in severity, difficulty, or cost.
- To become increasingly steep.
- To make something increasingly steep.
- To increase in severity, difficulty, pressure, or cost.
"The path steepens sharply as it approaches the summit."
"The road begins to steepen beyond the tree line."
"Rising energy costs have steepened the financial pressure on small businesses."
A slope can become steep, but a problem can also steepen: suddenly, everything gets harder.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does steepen come from?
Steepen was formed in Middle English by adding the verb-forming suffix -en to steep. The adjective steep comes from Old English stēap and is related to forms in other Germanic languages, including Dutch steep and German steil. Its development followed the same basic pattern seen in many English verbs: an existing adjective or noun was converted into a verb with -en.
Related word forms
How steepen is actually used
The verb is standard in British and American English. It is relatively uncommon in everyday speech and is especially associated with terrain, gradients, prices, pressures, and other things that become progressively more intense.
Easily confused with steepen
Steep is an adjective describing something that rises sharply, whereas steepen is a verb describing an increase in steepness.