steady
Americanadjective
-
steadier,
comparative
-
steadiest
superlative
-
firmly placed or fixed; stable in position or equilibrium.
a steady ladder.
- Synonyms:
- firm
-
even or regular in movement.
the steady swing of the pendulum.
-
free from change, variation, or interruption; uniform; continuous.
a steady diet of meat and potatoes;
a steady wind.
- Synonyms:
- invariable
-
constant, regular, or habitual.
a steady job.
-
free from excitement or agitation; calm.
steady nerves.
-
unfaltering; firm.
a steady gaze;
a steady hand.
-
steadfast or unwavering; resolute.
a steady purpose.
-
settled, staid, or sober, as a person, habits, etc.
-
Nautical. (of a vessel) keeping nearly upright, as in a heavy sea.
interjection
-
(used to urge someone to calm down or be under control.)
-
Nautical. (a helm order to keep a vessel steady on its present heading.)
noun
-
steadies
plural
-
Informal. a person whom one dates exclusively; sweetheart.
-
Informal. a steady visitor, customer, or the like; habitué.
verb (used with object)
-
steadies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
steadied,
past participle, past
-
steadying
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
steadies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
steadied,
past participle, past
-
steadying
present participle
adverb
-
in a firm or steady manner.
Hold the ladder steady.
-
Informal. steadily, regularly, or continuously.
Is she working steady now?
idioms
adjective
-
not able to be moved or disturbed easily; stable
-
free from fluctuation
the level stayed steady
-
not easily excited; imperturbable
-
staid; sober
-
regular; habitual
a steady drinker
-
continuous
a steady flow
-
nautical (of a vessel) keeping upright, as in heavy seas
verb
adverb
-
in a steady manner
-
informal to date one person regularly
noun
interjection
-
nautical an order to the helmsman to stay on a steady course
-
a warning to keep calm, be careful, etc
-
a command to get set to start, as in a race
ready, steady, go!
Synonym Usage
See steadfast.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
steadysimple
-
steadiessimple
-
have steadiedperfect
-
has steadiedperfect
-
am steadyingprogressive
-
are steadyingprogressive
-
is steadyingprogressive
-
have been steadyingperfect progressive
-
has been steadyingperfect progressive
Past
-
steadiedsimple
-
had steadiedperfect
-
was steadyingprogressive
-
were steadyingprogressive
-
had been steadyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of steady
First recorded in 1520–30; 1905–10 steady for def. 12; stead + -y 1
Explanation
The adjective steady describes something that is firmly fixed in position. If you have to climb up on your roof, you definitely want to have a steady ladder. Otherwise, you risk ending up in the bushes instead of on the roof. The adjective steady can also describe something that isn't going to fluctuate wildly. If you have a steady income from a salary, you bring in approximately the same amount of money each month. If you are paid on commission, on the other hand, you may make Midas look poor in some months and beggars look rich in others. As a verb, to steady means "to make something steady" (big surprise): You can steady a wobbly table by sticking a matchbook under its shortest leg, or you could steady a nervous dog with a reassuring pat.
Vocabulary lists containing steady
"O Captain! My Captain!" by Walt Whitman
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"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh"
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Purple Hibiscus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
On Friday, the Pope's doctors said tests had shown "a steady improvement in his general condition" since his procedure.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
In McDonnell, his supporters say, the mayor has an honest and principled leader who has managed to steady a department beset by low morale, dwindling staffing levels and aging facilities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Even if things were to steady out, banks still likely face tougher resource choices in the quarters ahead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Without a steady blood supply, brain cells can begin to suffer damage within minutes.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Renata held the steering wheel steady and closed her eyes.
From "Wolfie & Fly" by Cary Fagan
In the foreground, the midwife, known from Byzantine tradition as Salome, meets Joseph’s eyes as she steadies the water he pours into the baby’s bathtub.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
Demonstrating the instrument, he removes his bracelets and jacket, steadies his breath, rests his chin on the violin as if preparing for impact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
It steadies what has become a rocky relationship between the world's two biggest economies and it assures global markets.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025
Using a tenaculum, a scissor-like surgical tool, the physician steadies the cervix.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2024
My hands are shaking when I reach for the kettle, and he steadies it for me, helping me place it on the burner.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
If tighter monetary policy produces an orderly bond market, steadier inflation expectations and renewed confidence in the Fed’s ability to control prices, gold could struggle.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
These high-pressure winds feed into the subtropical jet stream, giving an extra boost that propels it further east over North America, causing it to blow stronger and steadier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Then cinematographers Evan Draper and Jazleana Jones along with Ullom, who also edits, take a steadier hand with evocative montages that emphasize the passage of time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
"I sincerely hope he proves those concerns unfounded, because the Intelligence Community deserves steadier leadership than it has received in recent months," Warner said in his statement.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Wind abating; seas still terrific, but feel them less, as ship is steadier.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
The Dodgers’ steadiest pitcher and coolest cat actually seemed miffed on the mound when Smith didn’t challenge — as shocking a sight as his early exit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Among lower-yielding currencies, the team sees CNY as the steadiest, KRW as the highest-beta currency, and SGD as a funder.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
The remittance tax could squeeze Indian household budgets, dampen consumption and investment, and undermine one of India's steadiest sources of foreign exchange, warns a brief by the Delhi-based Centre for WTO Studies.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2025
Lately, the Washington Department of Natural Resources has been Marshall’s steadiest customer.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 1, 2023
Early in December, in the course of a single afternoon, two of the cafe’s steadiest customers announced plans to pack up and leave not merely Finney County but the state.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Stock futures steadied and Treasurys weakened slightly in muted trading, as markets calmed after a volatile day on Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Sovereign bonds that had been hammered earlier this week steadied and stocks rallied Thursday, with sentiment turning positive following comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The hosts were soon 13-2 in their second innings before being steadied by a stand of 47 between Emilio Gay and Joe Root.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
U.S. stock futures rose and Treasurys steadied in early European trade, as lower oil prices eased pressure on yields following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s speech on U.S. sanctions against Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
He steadied himself on the bed and stared at the wall in front of him, right at the spot where the Magic Mirror hung.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
He claimed sometimes he had touched their shoulders as he was "steadying himself" due to being unsteady on his feet because of his condition.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Then, it’s time to talk about the “crack spread”—aka the reason we aren’t seeing relief at the gas stations despite steadying oil prices.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
The chip maker appeared to be steadying after the semiconductor-sector selloff.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
U.S. natural gas futures were lower but steadying after yesterday’s retreat on profit-taking, with the market seeing support in warmer weather moving deeper into June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Stunned, trying to take in what he had just heard, unable to speak, Joe reached out a hand and laid it on the rough-hewn cedar railing, steadying himself.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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