steady

1 of 4

adjective

ˈste-dē 

steadier; steadiest

1

a

: direct or sure in movement : unfaltering

a steady hand

b

: firm in position : fixed

held the pole steady

c

: keeping nearly upright in a seaway

a steady ship

2

a

: showing little variation or fluctuation : stable, uniform

a steady breeze

a steady heart rate

prices remaining steady

b

: happening or developing in a continuous and usually gradual way

3

: not easily disturbed or upset

steady nerves

4

a(1)

: constant in feeling, principle, purpose, or attachment

steady friends

(2)

—used to describe a lasting romantic relationship or the person with whom one has the relationship

a steady girlfriend/boyfriend

b

: dependable, reliable

a steady worker

c

: lasting or continuing in a dependable way

a steady job

does a steady business

5

: not given to dissipation : sober

steadily

ˈste-də-lē 

adverb

steadiness

ˈste-dē-nəs 

noun

steady

2 of 4

verb

steadied; steadying

transitive verb

: to make or keep steady

intransitive verb

: to become steady

steadier noun

steady

3 of 4

adverb

1

: in a steady manner : steadily

2

: on the course set

—used as a direction to the helmsman of a ship

steady

4 of 4

noun

plural steadies

: one that is steady

specifically : a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom one goes steady

Synonyms of steady

Adjective

• steadfast
• staunch
• loyal
• faithful
• good
• devout
• true
• dedicated
• constant

Choose the Right Synonym for steady

steady, even, equable mean not varying throughout a course or extent.

steady implies lack of fluctuation or interruption of movement.

steady progress

even suggests a lack of variation in quality or character.

an even distribution

equable implies lack of extremes or of sudden sharp changes.

maintain an equable temper

Examples of steady in a Sentence

Adjective

She used a tripod to keep the camera steady.

Painting takes a steady hand and a good eye.

Prices have remained steady over the last month.

He finally has a steady job.

They do a steady business at the restaurant.

There has been a steady increase in prices.

I am making steady progress on refinishing the basement.

There was a steady rain all day.

We've received a steady stream of donations.

Verb

He steadied the gun and fired.

She used a tripod to steady the camera.

The doctor gave her medication to help steady her heart rate.

Her heart rate had been erratic but eventually steadied.

Prices have steadied in recent months.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Bosu ball squat also works your abdominal muscles as well as your hip and ankle stabilizers, which play a key role in keeping you steady. —Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025

Following a few months of absolute chaos, as Nuno Espirito Santo talked himself out of a job and was replaced by Ange Postecoglou — a man with a footballing ethos that could not have been more different — Dyche is very much needed, as a steady hand on the tiller. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

Verb

Two coaches departed the team during the early, turbulent stages of the first phase of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs. —Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025

For a 2-7 team trying to steady a season, the upcoming stretch of games will be crucial for Tagovailoa, coach Mike McDaniel, and the future of the franchise. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

Adverb

The University of Buffalo and Arizona State University have both reported substantial declines, but initial data from Columbia University and Princeton University showed their international enrollment holding steady compared to last year. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

The Stoner Mesa fire held steady at about 7,390 acres in the San Juan National Forest northeast of Dolores on Friday morning. —Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025

Noun

Land softly, and keep your pelvis steady and your back straight. —Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025

Hold your phone steady so the entire page is visible. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English stedy, from stede

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adverb

circa 1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1792, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing steady

• go steady
• ready, steady, go
• steady as a rock
• steady on
• steady oneself
• steady one's/someone's nerves
• steady paycheck
• steady state
• steady state theory

Rhymes for steady

• heady
• ready
• reddi
• teddy
• thready
• already
• unsteady

Kids Definition

steady

1 of 4 adjective

ˈsted-ē 

steadier; steadiest

1

a

: firm in position : fixed

b

: direct or sure in movement

took steady aim

2

a

: regular entry 1 sense 3, uniform

a steady pace

b

: not changing much : stable

steady prices

3

a

: not easily moved or upset : resolute

b

: constant in feeling, principle, purpose, or attachment : dependable

steadily

ˈsted-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

steadiness

ˈsted-ē-nəs 

noun

steady

2 of 4 verb

steadied; steadying

: to make, keep, or become steady

steady

3 of 4 adverb

: in a steady manner : steadily

steady

4 of 4 noun

plural steadies

: one that is steady

especially : a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom one goes steady