steer
gb/stˈɪɹ/ us/stˈɪɹ/
B1
English
~ 8100
kormányoz, irányít, terel, tinó, ökör, tipp, tanács, támpont, kormányozható, irányítható
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to steer [a vehicle/boat] [direction]
Can you steer while I check the map?
Tudnál kormányozni, amíg megnézem a térképet?
She carefully steered the car around the fallen tree.
Óvatosan úgy kormányozta az autót, hogy kikerülje a kidőlt fát.
The captain steered the ship into the harbor.
He learned to steer a small fishing boat as a child.
The driver tried to steer away from the cyclist.
Learner examples
Please steer the car to the right.
Kérlek, kormányozd jobbra az autót.
He is learning how to steer a boat.
Azt tanulja, hogyan kell hajót kormányozni.
I steered the bike around the hole in the road.
She steered slowly because the road was wet.
The pilot steered the plane through the clouds.
Common mistake:
Learners often use "drive" when they mean only turning or controlling direction. Use "steer" when you focus on left/right movement or guiding, especially for boats and ships, not just cars.
Meaning
control direction of a vehicle
Collocations
steer a car
|steer the boat
|steer the ship
|steer into
|steer out of
|steer gently
Synonyms
drive (Broader; includes controlling speed and other actions, not only direction.)
|
pilot (Often used for planes or boats and can sound slightly more technical or formal.)
Antonyms
lose control (Describes failing to keep a vehicle going safely in the intended direction.)
Themes
transport
|daily_life
|transportation
Definition
To make a car, boat, or other moving thing go in the direction you want.
To control the direction in which a vehicle, boat, aircraft, or animal moves, usually by using a wheel, handle, rudder, or reins.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to steer [someone/something] [toward/away from something]
The teacher tried to steer the discussion back to the main topic.
A tanár megpróbálta visszaterelni a beszélgetést a fő témára.
Her parents gently steered her toward a career in medicine.
A szülei finoman az orvosi pálya felé terelgették.
The government is steering the economy away from fossil fuels.
He did his best to steer the project through a difficult period.
I always try to steer clear of gossip and steer the talk toward something positive.
Learner examples
The manager steered the team toward a new plan.
A vezető egy új terv felé terelte a csapatot.
My friend steered me away from a bad job.
A barátom lebeszélt egy rossz állásról.
She steered the conversation to a safer topic.
Good teachers steer students in a helpful way.
The coach steered the players toward better habits.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "guide" or "lead" and do not realize that "steer" is common for talking about conversations, careers, and organizations. Also, remember to use prepositions like "toward" or "away from" after "steer" in this sense.
Meaning
guide a person or situation
Collocations
steer the conversation
|steer the company
|steer policy
|steer someone toward
|steer someone away from
Synonyms
guide (Very close in meaning; slightly softer and more personal than "steer".)
|
direct (Often sounds more formal or authoritative than "steer".)
Antonyms
mislead (Means to guide someone in the wrong direction, especially by giving bad or false information.)
Themes
communication
|business
|education
|work
Definition
To guide a person or situation so that it moves toward a particular result.
To influence or guide the development, direction, or course of a person, conversation, organization, or situation.
NOUN
B2
3
The rancher bought fifty young steers for the feedlot.
A farmer ötven fiatal tinót vett a hizlaldába.
Each steer is tagged and weighed before it goes to market.
Minden tinót füljelzővel látnak el, és lemérnek, mielőtt piacra kerül.
The field was full of grazing steers.
This farm raises both dairy cows and beef steers.
The prize steer won first place at the county fair.
Learner examples
The farmer keeps many steers on his farm.
A gazda sok tinót tart a farmján.
The steers eat grass in the field.
A tinók füvet esznek a mezőn.
They sell the steers for beef.
A steer looks like a bull but cannot have babies.
The big brown steer stood near the fence.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "steer" is just another word for any cow. In fact, it refers specifically to a male animal that has been castrated, usually raised for meat.
Meaning
castrated male cow for beef
Collocations
herd of steers
|fattened steer
|beef steer
|raise steers
|feedlot steers
Synonyms
bullock (Used especially in British English; sometimes more general for a young bull, not always clearly limited to castrated animals.)
Antonyms
bull (An adult male bovine that has not been castrated, often kept for breeding rather than meat.)
Themes
animals
|food
|agriculture
|food_drink
Definition
A male cow that cannot have young and is kept for its meat.
A male bovine animal that has been castrated and is raised for its meat.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
4
The waiter gave us a good steer on which dishes to try.
A pincér jó tippet adott, hogy melyik fogásokat érdemes megkóstolnunk.
Do you have any steer on where I should apply?
Van valami tipped, hová érdemes jelentkeznem?
Her email gave me a clear steer about what to focus on first.
The recruiter promised to give him a steer on other openings.
Without a proper steer from management, the team felt lost.
Learner examples
He gave me a good steer on which hotel to book.
Jó tippet adott, melyik szállodát foglaljam le.
Can you give me a steer on this problem?
Tudsz tanácsot adni ezzel a problémával kapcsolatban?
I need a steer about which course to take.
Her advice was a helpful steer for my career.
The teacher’s steer helped me choose a topic.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize this noun use and may expect only the verb meaning related to cars or boats. Also, this sense is informal and less common than using "tip" or "advice."
Meaning
informal helpful advice or hint
Collocations
a good steer
|a bad steer
|give someone a steer
|get a steer on
Synonyms
tip (Very close in meaning; "tip" is more common and slightly more general than "steer" in this sense.)
|
lead (Often used for police or journalists when they receive information pointing them in a useful direction.)
Antonyms
misdirection (Information or advice that sends someone in the wrong direction instead of helping.)
Themes
communication
|work
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Informal: advice or a hint that helps you choose or find something.
Informal: a piece of advice, information, or guidance that helps someone make a decision or find what they need.
VERB
B2
TECHNICAL
5
irányítható
B2
Usage pattern:
[vehicle] steers [adverb]
The new model steers very smoothly at high speeds.
Az új modell nagy sebességnél is nagyon simán kormányozható.
This truck steers badly on icy roads.
Ez a teherautó jeges utakon rosszul kormányozható.
The boat steers well, even in strong winds.
The small car steers more easily than the van.
The old tractor still steers reliably despite its age.
Learner examples
This car steers very well.
Ez az autó nagyon jól kormányozható.
My old car steers badly in the rain.
A régi autóm esőben rosszul kormányozható.
The boat steers easily in calm water.
The small bike steers better than the big one.
The new truck steers more smoothly than the old truck.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "steer" can be used without an object to talk about how a vehicle behaves. In this use, the vehicle is the subject, not the driver.
Meaning
of a vehicle, to handle or turn
Collocations
steers well
|steers badly
|steers easily
|steers smoothly
Synonyms
handle (Common in talking about cars; describes how easy or hard a vehicle is to control.)
Themes
transport
|technology
|transportation
Definition
When people talk about a car, boat, etc., to say how easy or difficult it is to turn it.
Of a vehicle or vessel: to move or turn in a particular way in response to the steering controls.
Grammar
Dictionary form
steer
IPA
GB/stˈɪɹ/
US/stˈɪɹ/
Syllables & stress
steer (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (steer)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: steer
- Plural: steer, steers
Verb
- Base: steer
- 3rd Person Singular: steers
- Present Participle: steering
- Past: steered
Word family
Forms
steers
noun
steering
verb
steered
verb
Related words
steerable
adjective
Advanced or less common
oversteer
noun
understeer
noun
Expressions
steer a course between
1/stˈɪɹ ə kˈɔɹs bɪtwˈin/
idiom
formal
choose a careful middle path
To act in a way that avoids two extreme choices and stays in the middle between them.
Examples
- The government is trying to steer a course between higher taxes and deep spending cuts.
- Parents often have to steer a course between being too strict and too relaxed with their children.
- The company must steer a course between innovation and financial safety.
steer someone in the right direction
1/stˈɪɹ sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɪn ðə ɹˈaɪt dɪɹˈɛkʃən/
idiom
guide someone helpfully
To give someone helpful advice or information so they can do the right thing.
Examples
- Her mentor steered her in the right direction when she was choosing a major.
- If you’re not sure which class to take, the advisor can steer you in the right direction.
- I hope this book will steer you in the right direction with your studies.
steer clear of
1/stˈɪɹ klˈɪɹ əv/
idiom
informal
Deliberately keep away from
To stay away from someone or something on purpose.
Examples
- You should steer clear of that neighborhood at night.
- I try to steer clear of political arguments.
steer clear of
2/stˈɪɹ klˈɪɹ əv/
idiom
avoid someone or something
To stay away from someone or something, especially because it may cause trouble or problems.
Examples
- You should steer clear of that bar; it has a bad reputation.
- I try to steer clear of office politics.
- Steer clear of raw chicken that has not been stored properly.