steady

[ sted-ee ]

/ ˈstɛd i /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR steady ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, stead·i·er, stead·i·est.

firmly placed or fixed; stable in position or equilibrium: a steady ladder.

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.

constant, regular, or habitual: a steady job.

free from excitement or agitation; calm: steady nerves.

firm; unfaltering: 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, plural stead·ies.

Informal. a person of the opposite sex whom one dates exclusively; sweetheart; boyfriend or girlfriend.

Informal. a steady visitor, customer, or the like; habitué.

verb (used with object), stead·ied, stead·y·ing.

to make or keep steady, as in position, movement, action, character, etc.: His calm confidence steadied the nervous passengers.

verb (used without object), stead·ied, stead·y·ing.

to become steady.

adverb

in a firm or steady manner: Hold the ladder steady.

Informal. steadily, regularly, or continuously: Is she working steady now?

QUIZZES

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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Idioms for steady

go steady, Informal. to date one person exclusively: Her father didn't approve of her going steady at such an early age.

Origin of steady

1520–30; 1905–10 for def 12; stead + -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR steady

1 balanced.

3 undeviating, invariable.

7 See steadfast.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR steady ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM steady

stead·i·ly, adverbstead·i·ness, nouno·ver·stead·i·ly, adverbo·ver·stead·i·ness, noun

o·ver·stead·y, adjective

Words nearby steady

ste.-thérèse, stead, steadfast, steadicam, steading, steady, steady as a rock, steady state, steady state theory, steady state universe, steady-going

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for steadiness

Simon is 51 years old, tall, and possessed of a big smile that conveys Midwestern values and steadiness.
Could Michelle Obama Run for the U.S. Senate?|Eleanor Clift|March 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Looking back, who would have predicted, as the campaign began, that the deciding factors would be competence and steadiness?
Sarah Palin, Beware: The Evangelical Intrusion Is Over|Garry Wills|November 13, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Steadiness of rates, on the other hand, is vital to a healthy state of trade.
Railroads: Rates and Regulations|William Z. Ripley
Although reverses followed, the Corps maintained the reputation it had gained for steadiness and discipline.
The Life of Gordon, Volume I|Demetrius Charles Boulger

Steadiness, however, combined with indomitable courage, prevailed.
Blue Lights|R.M. Ballantyne
Winston looked down upon her gravely, and Miss Barrington noticed a steadiness in his eyes she had not expected to see.
Winston of the Prairie|Harold Bindloss
But he recovered his steadiness again directly, and looked, to the Colonel for orders.
Sappers and Miners|George Manville Fenn

British Dictionary definitions for steadiness

steady

/ (ˈstɛdɪ) /

adjective steadier or steadiest

not able to be moved or disturbed easily; stable

free from fluctuationthe level stayed steady

not easily excited; imperturbable

staid; sober

regular; habituala steady drinker

continuousa steady flow

nautical (of a vessel) keeping upright, as in heavy seas

verb steadies, steadying or steadied

to make or become steady

adverb

in a steady manner

go steady informal to date one person regularly

noun plural steadies

informal one's regular boyfriend or girlfriend

interjection

nautical an order to the helmsman to stay on a steady course

a warning to keep calm, be careful, etc

British a command to get set to start, as in a raceready, steady, go!

Derived forms of steady

steadier, nounsteadily, adverbsteadiness, noun

Word Origin for steady

C16: from stead + -y 1; related to Old High German stātīg, Middle Dutch stēdig

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with steadiness

steady

In addition to the idiom beginning with steady

steady as a rock

also see:

go steady
slow but sure (steady wins the race)

steady

adjective, stead·i·er, stead·i·est.

interjection

noun, plural stead·ies.

verb (used with object), stead·ied, stead·y·ing.

verb (used without object), stead·ied, stead·y·ing.

adverb

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Idioms for steady

Origin of steady

SYNONYMS FOR steady

OTHER WORDS FROM steady

Words nearby steady

Words related to steadiness

Example sentences from the Web for steadiness

British Dictionary definitions for steadiness

adjective steadier or steadiest

verb steadies, steadying or steadied

adverb

noun plural steadies

interjection

Derived forms of steady

Word Origin for steady

Idioms and Phrases with steadiness