steppe

noun

1
: one of the vast usually level and treeless tracts in southeastern Europe or Asia
2
: arid land with xerophilous vegetation found usually in regions of extreme temperature range and loess soil

Examples of steppe in a Sentence

nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The trio will touch down on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan, just a few hours later, around 9:20 p.m. EDT (0120 GMT and 6:20 a.m. Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2025 In the vast steppes, nomadic families host travelers in traditional ger camps, offering a firsthand experience of their herding lifestyle, music and horsemanship traditions. Roger Sands, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 Vladimir Putin has relied on mercenary and convict soldiers, combined with lavish bonuses for poor Russians who volunteer to try their luck against killer Ukrainian robots on the steppe. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2025 Eventually, these descendants of the Xiongnu joined a swirling mix of steppe and local tribes living in central Europe. Byandrew Curry, science.org, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steppe

Word History

Etymology

Russian step'

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of steppe was in 1671

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Steppe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steppe. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

steppe

noun
: land in regions of wide temperature range (as in southeastern Europe and parts of Asia) that is dry, usually rather level, and covered with grass

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