STEE-plee
/ˈstipli/
steeply is pronounced STEE-plee (/ˈstipli/). Steeply is an adverb meaning in a steep or steep-slope manner, often describing a rapid or drastic change or incline. It connotes a sharp slope or a markedly quick progression and is used to describe ascent, decline, or rate of change with emphasis on form or gradient. The pronunciation is stressed on the first syllable, with a long.
Steeply is an adverb meaning in a steep or steep-slope manner, often describing a rapid or drastic change or incline. It connotes a sharp slope or a markedly quick progression and is used to describe ascent, decline, or rate of change with emphasis on form or gradient. The pronunciation is stressed on the first syllable, with a long
"The hill rose steeply, challenging even experienced climbers."
"Prices rose steeply after the announcement, catching many by surprise."
"Traffic slowed steeply as the rain intensified."
Steeply is pronounced /stiːp.li/ in US, UK, and AU varieties. Primary stress is on STEEP (the first syllable). Start with /st/ cluster, release a long /iː/ vowel for STEEP, then a light /p/ stop, followed by a clear /l/ and a final short /i/ nuanced as a light -ly. Think: STEEP + lee quickly. Audio references include major dictionaries and pronunciation platforms to hear the exact rhythm.
Common errors: misplacing stress (producing STEEPly with reduced emphasis on STEEP), pronouncing the second syllable as a full stressed vowel (say STEEP-PEE-lee), and slurring the final /li/ into a single syllable. Correction tips: keep primary stress on STEEP (/stiːp/), pronounce the second syllable with a short, light /li/ (not /liː/), and avoid inserting extra syllables or lengthening the final vowel. Practice by isolating STEEP and -ly with slow pace, then blend.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /stiːp/ onset remains, but rhoticity and vowel quality create subtle differences. US tends to maintain a clear /r/ absent in steeply; UK and AU share non-rhotic tendencies, so the /r/ is not pronounced. Vowel length of /iː/ is similar, but Australian accents may feature a slightly shorter /iː/ and quicker /li/ follow-through. The final /li/ tends to be light in all, but tempo and intonation differ in connected speech.
Steeply challenges include two-consonant cluster at the start /st/ requiring a precise release, and the light, quick /li/ after the stressed vowel, which can be mispronounced as /liː/ or omitted. Additionally, ensuring primary stress stays on STEEP while keeping the following syllable unstressed demands careful tempo. Misleading learners may also try to insert an extra syllable or mispronounce /iː/ as a short /ɪ/. Focus on crisp /st/ + long /iː/ + /p/ + light /li/.
A unique aspect is maintaining a sharp boundary between the stressed long vowel in STEEP and the subsequent light, separate syllable -ly. The /li/ portion should be our light, brief syllable with less emphasis than the vowel in STEEP. The final -ly often loses a bit of its fullness in rapid speech, so you’ll hear a quick /li/ rather than a full, drawn-out syllable. IPA: /stiːp.li/ with clean separation.
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Steeply derives from the adjective steep, with the adverbial suffix -ly indicating manner or degree. The word steep itself traces to Old English steep, steepu, from Proto-Germanic *stauþaz, related to Dutch steil and German steil, tied to the sense of a sharp incline or difficult ascent. Historically, steep appeared as a descriptor of terrain before extending metaphorically to describe rapid changes or intense actions. The adverbial form steeply emerged in Middle English as speakers sought to qualify actions or slopes with a sense of immediacy or extremity. The progression from literal slope to metaphorical rapidity mirrors broader semantic shifts in English where physical properties become evaluative descriptors for rates, intensities, and degrees. The term gained frequent usage in travel, geology, meteorology, economics, and journalism as a precise modifier for sudden, pronounced changes. First known uses are attested in typical 14th–15th century texts, with steady adoption across literature and scientific discourse by the 17th–19th centuries, culminating in contemporary usage that remains firmly tied to both literal geometry and figurative progression.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "steeply" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "steeply"
-ply sounds
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