Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more 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. Show More
(used to urge someone to calm down or be under control.) Nautical (a helm order to keep a vessel steady on its present heading.) Show More
Informal a person of the opposite sex whom one dates exclusively; sweetheart; boyfriend or girlfriend. Informal a steady visitor, customer, or the like; habitué. Show More
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. Show More
verb (used without object), stead·ied, stead·y·ing. to become steady. Show More
in a firm or steady manner: Hold the ladder steady. Informal steadily, regularly, or continuously: Is she working steady now? Show More
go steady , Informal to date one person exclusively: Her father didn't approve of her going steady at such an early age. Show More
Origin of steady 1520–30; 1905–10 for def 12 ;
stead +
-y1 Related forms stead·i·ly , adverb stead·i·ness , noun o·ver·stead·i·ly , adverb o·ver·stead·i·ness , noun o·ver·stead·y , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for steady constant ,
solid ,
reliable ,
safe ,
substantial ,
durable ,
regular ,
consistent ,
continuous ,
persistent ,
incessant ,
stable ,
uninterrupted ,
unbroken ,
resolute ,
fast ,
dependable ,
calm ,
intense ,
even Examples from the Web for steady Contemporary Examples of steady It is the steady accretion of detail that may yet be the most damaging factor in the battle for British hearts and minds.
Superintendent Smith, in fact, had fielded a steady stream of complaints about him that never resulted in any direct action.
Outside, a lone traffic policeman directs a steady stream of motorbikes.
Activating iPhones promised a lucrative, steady revenue stream for Synchronoss.
For Reid, wealth accumulation has come from a steady diet of land deals and playing the market.
Historical Examples of steady She stopped the running and meditated with a steady , hard deliberation.
His eyes, round and full and steady , taxed her with falsehood, with hypocrisy.
Dozier kept Gray Peter at a steady pace, never varying his gait.
In the next room the voices of the four were a steady , rumbling murmur.
That sort o' trade, ye see, miss, the demand's not steady in it.
British Dictionary definitions for steady adjective steadier or steadiest 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 Show More
verb steadies , steadying or steadied to make or become steady Show More
in a steady manner go steady informal to date one person regularly Show More
informal one's regular boyfriend or girlfriend Show More
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 race ready, steady, go! Show More
Derived Forms steadier , noun steadily , adverb steadiness , 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
Word Origin and History for steady adj. 1520s (replacing earlier steadfast ), from stead + adjectival suffix -y (2), perhaps on model of Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stadig . Old English had stæððig "grave, serious," and stedig "barren," but neither seems to be the direct source of the modern word. Old Norse cognate stoðugr "steady, stable" was closer in sense.
Originally of things; of persons or minds from c.1600. Meaning "working at an even rate" is first recorded in 1540s. Steady progress is etymologically a contradiction in terms. Steady state first attested 1885; as a cosmological theory (propounded by Bondi, Gold, and Hoyle), it is attested from 1948.
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v. 1520s, from steady (adj.). Related: Steadied ; steadying .
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n. "one's boyfriend or girlfriend," 1897 from steady (adj.); to go steady is 1905 in teenager slang.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with steady In addition to the idiom beginning with steady
also see:
go steady slow but sure (steady wins the race) Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
