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:
From a young age, William was depicted as the charming, steady heir to the throne, with Harry the wayward but loveably roguish sibling.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
States like Texas had previously welcomed the facilities, which store many types of online data and generate steady streams of tax revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
And the proportion of top grades across all three nations – marked at 7/A or above - has also remained steady, rising very slightly from 21.9% last year to 22% this year.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
At the meeting, the Fed held its benchmark interest rate steady at a range of 3.5%-3.75%, but three officials dissented in favor of a 25-basis-point increase.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Irian made to follow, Nighthand holding the Ever Onward steady against the side of the Shadow Dancer.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
In its central scenario, in which limited fiscal stimulus supports consumption and the 10-year JGB yield steadies around 2.5% by end-2026, Moody’s now expects annual GDP growth at 0.5%, down from 0.9%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
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
That memory belongs to a woman named Lina, played by Betty Gilpin, and it steadies her.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2024
The ball is worked through to Aaron Collins, who steadies himself and unleashes a thunderbolt from 25 yards into the top corner.
From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2024
“Of course. You’re fifteen. You went fourteen floors up a—” He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and steadies himself.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
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
"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 a statement after the vote.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
If one of your jobs offers steadier hours than the others, consider making it your financial foundation — and treating your remaining work as supplemental income.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
After a while, the snow picked up, falling heavier and steadier.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
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
"My friends are the loves of my life and so it feels right to be championing platonic friendship that can be some of the strongest and steadiest love in your life," Hinds says.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2024
It might be the team’s steadiest position group.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2024
The payments for publishing these notices are among the steadiest sources of revenue left for local papers.
From New York Times ● Jun. 18, 2023
The steadiest thing in Kelley’s life was their pets, and he decided early on he wanted to be a veterinarian.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
Marnus Labuschagne and Smith steadied the ship, before the former was bowled by Taijul Islam for 31.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Yamamoto’s consistency has steadied the Dodgers’ rotation, while it’s had to navigate injuries to veteran starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and most recently Shohei Ohtani.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
That’s when Julian Alvarez steadied himself just outside the 18-yard box in the 112th minute.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
BHP shares steadied Friday in Sydney but ended the week more than 10% below a record close on June 17.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Mrs. Lonogan steadied herself by gripping the table, as if Finn had just declared his intention to train unicorns for the fairy circus.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
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
In a speech aimed at steadying his tottering premiership on Monday, Sir Keir said "incremental change won't cut it" as he promised to "face up to the big challenges" the country faced.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
By Sunday, it becomes something quieter: nourishment for the week ahead, a small, steadying balm against the Sunday scaries.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026
Troubles for some assets, like technology credit, could be offset by steadying conditions in real estate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026
Perhaps it was my getting away from the steadying hand of the sea, and also perhaps I was getting very far north.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
