steaming: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral for literal meaning; informal for figurative/slang meanings.
Quick answer
What does “steaming” mean?
emitting steam or vapour as a result of being very hot.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
emitting steam or vapour as a result of being very hot; the process of cooking food using steam.
Used informally to mean extremely angry or, in British slang, very drunk. Also describes something moving with great speed or force, or a state of intense activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang meaning 'very drunk' (e.g., 'He was absolutely steaming') is predominantly British. The sense of 'extremely angry' is understood in both but more common in UK informal speech.
Connotations
In British English, 'steaming' has a strong informal, sometimes laddish, connotation when referring to drunkenness.
Frequency
Literal use is equally common. Figurative 'angry' use is moderately common in UK, less so in US. Figurative 'drunk' use is high-frequency in UK informal contexts, rare in US.
Grammar
How to Use “steaming” in a Sentence
[V] The kettle was steaming.[V + ADJ] She was steaming mad.[V + ADV] The train came steaming into the station.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “steaming” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mug of tea was steaming on the table.
- The debate left him absolutely steaming.
American English
- The locomotive came steaming down the track.
- She was still steaming about the comment hours later.
adverb
British English
- The train raced steaming past the platform.
American English
- He ran steaming hot water over the frozen pipe.
adjective
British English
- He served a steaming plate of roast dinner.
- After the pub crawl, they were steaming.
American English
- I need a steaming cup of coffee to wake up.
- The CEO was steaming after the failed product launch.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in manufacturing contexts: 'the steaming process for textiles'.
Academic
Limited to specific fields (e.g., food science, engineering) describing a technical process.
Everyday
Common for describing hot food/drink, informal states of anger/intoxication.
Technical
Used in cooking (steaming vegetables), engineering (steaming engines/turbines).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “steaming”
- Using 'steaming' to mean 'very clean' (confusion with 'steam-cleaning'). Overusing the slang meaning in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The literal meaning (emitting steam) is neutral and can be used formally. The meanings 'very angry' and 'very drunk' are informal slang.
Not typically. 'Steaming' usually describes objects or people. For hot, humid weather, 'steamy' is more common (e.g., a steamy summer day).
Both can mean very angry. 'Fuming' is slightly more common for anger in both UK and US English. 'Steaming' has the additional strong slang meaning of 'drunk' in UK English.
It is the present participle of the verb 'to steam'. Use it in continuous tenses: 'The kettle is steaming', 'The ship was steaming north'.
emitting steam or vapour as a result of being very hot.
Steaming: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstiːmɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstimɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Steaming mad”
- “Full steam ahead (related)”
- “Let off steam (related)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STEAMING hot bowl of soup - you see the STEAM coming off it. The word looks like 'STEAM' + 'ING'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER/EXCITEMENT IS HEATED FLUID UNDER PRESSURE (e.g., 'steaming with rage').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'steaming' MOST likely to mean 'very drunk' in standard usage?