steadily

American  

[sted-i-lee] / ˈstɛd ɪ li /

adverb

1. in a way that moves constantly and at an even pace or in the same direction.

   My dedication and commitment to teaching are proven by my steadily increasing student evaluation scores.

   Despite numerous legislative attempts to constrain spending over the past 40 years, the deficit problem has marched steadily on.

2. in a continuous, uniform way.

   It rained steadily all day yesterday and by evening the river was almost overflowing.

3. in a calm, fixed, or unwavering way.

   He just stood there, holding his ground and gazing steadily at her, into those dark eyes.

4. in a firm, stable way.

   Binoculars with larger magnification tend to be overly bulky and difficult to hold steadily.

5. in a determined, persevering, or resolute way.

   She told him, “Seek peace of mind and hold steadily to your faith.”

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Other Word Forms

• oversteadily adverb

Etymology

Origin of steadily

steady ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Something that happens steadily occurs at a predictable, reliable, unchanging pace. If it keeps raining for hours, it's been raining steadily. If you stand outside without an umbrella, you will steadily get drenched. Anything that keeps happening at a regular clip is happening steadily. A politician who campaigns every day for months has been campaigning steadily. If you write an hour a day on a novel, the novel is growing steadily. The opposite of steadily is unsteadily, which would describe something that happens in an irregular, shaky, or unpredictable way. Anything done steadily goes on and on.

Example Sentences

Despite a surprise drop in the most recent jobless rate, UK unemployment has been steadily rising over the last year.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Even still, participation rates slip steadily down the income slope: At salaries above $150,000, it’s 95%, while for those making $15,000 to $30,000, it’s just 49%.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

OpenAI began steadily drifting from its nonprofit mission by allowing outside investment, including a partnership with Microsoft in 2019.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026

Capital expenditures on the infrastructure needed to satisfy demand are climbing steadily higher.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

The fourth day, when the Astrea lay at anchor, her sails limp, another ship passed them, moving steadily against the current.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

Related Words

• regularly