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?

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, adverb stead·i·ness, noun o·ver·stead·i·ly, adverb o·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

Example sentences from the Web for steadily

Slow at first, then steadily, a stream of liquid drips off the incision.

The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway |Nina Strochlic |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It was reaffirmed in 2012, and popular support has been steadily building an ever—healthier majority for marriage equality.

America’s First Post-Gay Governor |David Freedlander |October 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan is steadily but narrowly leading GOP challenger Thom Tillis.

Who Are the Judicial Activists Now? |Michael Tomasky |October 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Tensions have been steadily rising for years, but recent developments have been different from the annual protests of past.

Is Hong Kong Tiananmen 2.0? |Brendon Hong |September 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The birth rate to unmarried mothers has, with a few pauses, steadily climbed since the 1940s.

Unwed Women in the United States Are Having Fewer Babies |Brandy Zadrozny |August 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We pulled on steadily, hoping to get up to her without being discovered.

Will Weatherhelm |W.H.G. Kingston
After breakfast two likely-looking hunters, perhaps a little screwy, were brought round and steadily mounted.

A Book of the West. Volume I Devon |S. Baring-Gould
Why can't I look at it as steadily as I have looked at all the rest?

Armadale |Wilkie Collins
His eye is glued on the Judge's, who steadily returns the glance.

The Little Lady of Lagunitas |Richard Henry Savage
Always on horseback, always busy furbishing and handling weapons, I now steadily pursued an idea that was destined to be realized.

The Abbatial Crosier |Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for steadily

steady

/ (ˈstɛdɪ) /

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

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 race ready, steady, go!

Derived forms of steady

steadier, noun steadily, adverb steadiness, noun

Word Origin for steady

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

Idioms and Phrases with steadily

steady

In addition to the idiom beginning with steady

steady as a rock

also see:

go steady
slow but sure (steady wins the race)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

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

Idioms for steady

Origin of steady

SYNONYMS FOR steady

OTHER WORDS FROM steady

Words nearby steady

Example sentences from the Web for steadily

British Dictionary definitions for steadily

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 steadily

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

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

Idioms for steady

Origin of steady

SYNONYMS FOR steady

OTHER WORDS FROM steady

Words nearby steady

Words related to steadily

Example sentences from the Web for steadily

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for steadily

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 steadily

British Dictionary definitions for steadily