What does steepening mean?
Steepening describes the process of becoming steeper or making something steeper. It is commonly used in relation to roads, paths, slopes, gradients, coastlines, glaciers, and other changing or engineered features of the landscape. For example, melting ice may cause a mountain slope to become steepening, while a construction company may work on steepening a road to improve its gradient. The word is usually neutral and technical, though it can appear in news reporting or environmental discussion when describing changes in terrain. In everyday conversation, people more often say that something is “getting steeper” or “becoming steeper,” but “steepening” is especially useful when discussing a continuing change or a planned modification. It is the present participle of the verb “steepen” and can also function as a gerund naming the process.
Indicating the action or process of becoming steeper or of making something steeper.
"The road is steepening sharply beyond the village."
Usually used for a continuing change or a process underway.
The process or act of becoming steeper or making something steeper.
"The steepening of the slope increased the difficulty of the climb."
The plural is uncommon, because the word is normally used in the singular for a particular process or trend.
"The steepenings of successive slopes made the route increasingly difficult."
A road can already be steep, but it is steepening when its gradient is becoming even sharper.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does steepening come from?
The verb “steepen” derives from the adjective “steep,” which comes from Old English “stēap,” meaning high, lofty, or sharply rising. The suffix “-en” is a verbal-forming element that has long been used in English to create verbs from adjectives. “Steepening” therefore developed as a form indicating the process of becoming or being made steep.
Related word forms
How steepening is actually used
Steepening is commonly used with slopes, gradients, roads, paths, and terrain. It is usually descriptive rather than emotional, and is especially frequent in technical and geographical contexts.
Easily confused with steepening
Steep describes a slope or other surface that is sharply inclined, whereas steepening describes the process of becoming steeper or making something steeper.