steady
STEH-dee
Steady (adj) means Firmly fixed or balanced; not shaking or wobbling. Example: “Hold the ladder steady while I climb up.”
adj
1
Firmly fixed or balanced; not shaking or wobbling.
"Hold the ladder steady while I climb up."
"Her hands were steady even under pressure in the operating room."
"The table was not steady, so we put a folded card under one leg."
2
Regular and consistent, without sudden changes.
"The economy has shown steady growth this year."
"He walked at a steady pace, neither speeding up nor slowing down."
"A steady rain fell all afternoon, and the streets were soon wet."
3
Calm and reliable in temperament, especially under stress.
"He's a steady presence in the locker room during tense games."
"Our nurse stayed steady while everyone else panicked about the power cut."
"You need a steady temperament to work as an air traffic controller."
verb
1
To make something stable or stop it from shaking.
"She steadied herself against the railing as the boat rocked."
"Please steady the camera on a tripod so the photo isn't blurred."
"He put out a hand to steady the wobbling stack of plates."
How to use steady
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStable, consistent, and reliable — whether describing a hand, a pace, or a person's nerve.
Common mistake
"Going steady" is an informal, slightly dated way to describe an exclusive romantic relationship, not a description of someone's balance.
Common pairings
steady hand
steady pace
steady job
steady on
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like steady.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- steadies
- Third person singular
- steadies
- Past tense
- steadied
- Comparative
- steadier
- Superlative
- steadiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Hold the ladder _____ while I climb up.
Etymology
From Middle English stedy, built from stead ("place") plus -y, originally meaning "firmly fixed in place."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for steady
See all rhymes for steady →Frequently asked questions
What does “steady” mean?
The word “steady” means firmly fixed or balanced; not shaking or wobbling. In plain terms, stable, consistent, and reliable — whether describing a hand, a pace, or a person's nerve.
How do you pronounce “steady”?
“Steady” is pronounced STEH-dee (/ˈstɪdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “steady” in a sentence?
Here is “steady” used in a sentence: “Hold the ladder steady while I climb up.”
What is another word for “steady”?
Words with a similar meaning to “steady” include staunch, unyielding, uniform, unvarying, ponderous and stately.
What is the opposite of “steady”?
The opposite of “steady” — its antonyms — is unsteady.
What part of speech is “steady”?
Depending on how it is used, “steady” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “steady” come from?
The word “steady” comes from Middle English. From Middle English stedy, built from stead ("place") plus -y, originally meaning "firmly fixed in place.".
Is “steady” a common word?
“Steady” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'steady' and 'stable'?
Both mean firm and not easily changed, but 'steady' often stresses a constant, even rate or motion, as in 'a steady pace.' 'Stable' emphasises being firmly fixed and unlikely to fall, tip over, or change suddenly, as in 'a stable structure.'
What is the difference between 'steady' and 'constant'?
'Constant' means unchanging or continuous, happening without interruption. 'Steady' allows for gradual movement or activity as long as it stays regular and even, so a steady increase still changes, just at a smooth and reliable rate.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include steady:
