1 B1 neutral
To become covered with condensation or steam, making it hard to see through.
"My glasses steamed up the moment I walked into the warm kitchen."
inseparable
steam up
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To become covered in condensation or steam, or to make someone very angry or excited.
In plain English
To get foggy from steam (like a mirror after a shower), or to make someone really angry.
What does "steam up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To make someone angry, agitated, or very excited; often used in the passive ('get steamed up').
"Don't get so steamed up about a minor mistake — just fix it and move on."
“
Don't get all steamed up. It's not worth it.
— Common idiomatic usage widely attested in American English literature and film (general attribution)
separable
3 B1 neutral
To heat food or a container using steam.
"Steam up the pudding for twenty minutes before serving."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill up with or become covered by steam.
Actually means
To get foggy from steam (like a mirror after a shower), or to make someone really angry.
Usage tip
The physical sense is very common in British English for glasses and windows. The emotional sense ('all steamed up') is informal and means agitated or angry; it is often used in the passive or as an adjective phrase.
Words that pair with "steam up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
glasses windows mirror windscreen angry worked up
How to conjugate "steam up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
steam up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
steams up
he/she/it
Past simple
steamed up
yesterday
Past participle
steamed up
have + pp
-ing form
steaming up
continuous
Hear "steam up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "steam up"
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