adj
unsteady
uhn-STEH-dee
Unsteady (adj) means not firmly balanced or supported; shaky. Example: “He felt unsteady on his feet after the long flight.”
adj
1
Not firmly balanced or supported; shaky.
"He felt unsteady on his feet after the long flight."
2
Irregular or inconsistent.
"Her unsteady income made budgeting difficult."
How to use unsteady
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWobbly or inconsistent, whether physically or in behaviour.
Common pairings
unsteady hands
unsteady on your feet
unsteady voice
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- unsteadies
- Past tense
- unsteadied
- Comparative
- unsteadier
- Superlative
- unsteadiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He felt _____ on his feet after the long flight.
Etymology
From un- + steady. Like steady, the word first appeared in English around 1530. The word is comparable to Old Frisian onstedich, Low German unstadig, etc.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unsteady
See all rhymes for unsteady →Frequently asked questions
What does “unsteady” mean?
The word “unsteady” means not firmly balanced or supported; shaky. In plain terms, wobbly or inconsistent, whether physically or in behaviour.
How do you pronounce “unsteady”?
“Unsteady” is pronounced uhn-STEH-dee (/ʌnˈstɛdi/ in IPA).
How do you use “unsteady” in a sentence?
Here is “unsteady” used in a sentence: “He felt unsteady on his feet after the long flight.”
What is another word for “unsteady”?
Words with a similar meaning to “unsteady” include rickety, shaky, irregular, unstable, erratic and fluid.
What is the opposite of “unsteady”?
The opposite of “unsteady” — its antonyms — is steady.
What part of speech is “unsteady”?
“Unsteady” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “unsteady” have?
“Unsteady” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not firmly balanced or supported; shaky.
