steady

adjective

Save Word

\ ˈste-dē

steadier; steadiest

Definition of steady

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : 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 : showing little variation or fluctuation : stable, uniform a steady breeze steady prices

3a : not easily disturbed or upset steady nerves

b(1) : constant in feeling, principle, purpose, or attachment steady friends

(2) : dependable

c : not given to dissipation : sober

steady

verb

steadied; steadying

Definition of steady (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

: to make or keep steady

intransitive verb

: to become steady

steady

adverb

Definition of steady (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : in a steady manner : steadily

2 : on the course set —used as a direction to the helmsman of a ship

steady

noun

plural steadies

Definition of steady (Entry 4 of 4)

: one that is steady specifically : a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom one goes steady

Other Words from steady Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing steady Learn More About steady

Other Words from steady

Adjective

steadily \ ˈste-də-lē

\ adverb

steadiness \ ˈste-dē-nəs

\ noun

Verb

steadier noun

Choose the Right Synonym for steady

Adjective

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Angi was granted a work permit in 2020 through the asylum petition and secured her first steady job as a hotel housekeeper. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Through much courage and suffering, and with steady support from the U.S. and neighboring Colombia, Venezuelans have continued their fight for freedom. — Elliott Abrams, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 Rogers is arguably the most pivotal piece to the Brewers bullpen remaining steady. — Curt Hogg, Journal Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2022 The July 29 announcement comes after six years of steady work toward regulatory approval. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 3 Aug. 2022 After years of steady work in film and on shows like Girls, The Punisher, and The Dropout, his kitchen confidential is a yes-chef smash. — Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2022 In some households, an athletic brother or sister might be an encouraging role model, a steady playmate, a reliable confidant. — Linda Flanagan, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2022 The steady decline in gas prices has been driven by multiple factors, including recession fears that have knocked down oil prices and the fact that some Americans cut back on driving when gas prices spiked above $5 a gallon. — Matt Egan, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 The White House responded by stressing that what matters is the steady decline in oil and gasoline prices from summer highs, not the actions taken by OPEC+ to pump an additional 100,000 barrels of oil in September. — Josh Boak, ajc, 3 Aug. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Party officials believe the next prime minister will have two years to steady the ship before the next election expected in 2024, during which the Conservatives, also known as the Tories, will seek a record fifth consecutive election win. — Max Colchester, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The Squad sifted through boulders, bed frames, any debris to steady their jack. — Matt Sullivan, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2022 Eugene Scalia, then the labor secretary, discussed with colleagues right after the attack the need to steady the administration, according to three people familiar with the conversations. — Maggie Haberman, BostonGlobe.com, 11 June 2022 Eugene Scalia, then the labor secretary, discussed with colleagues right after the attack the need to steady the administration, according to three people familiar with the conversations. — New York Times, 10 June 2022 With the mask, users can blow up balloons, hold their breath to steady a toy gun, and do several other things. — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 1 June 2022 Sanders is accused of taking deliberate aim and shooting victims while using his free hand to steady his weapon, which was outfitted with a switch to fire automatically, Murphy added. — William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2022 Jumping into action, a passenger — identified by Today as passenger Darren Harrison — climbed into the front seat of the plane, removed the pilot, and helped steady the aircraft. — Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022 Those issues would emerge again after the half, just as USC seemed to steady its shaky start. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb Despite the slowing of sales in June, Norton said second quarter sales held steady compared to last year due to strong sales at the beginning of the quarter. — Scott Turner | Sturner@al.com, al, 26 July 2022 The system worked great in busy traffic, staying steady around corners at 75 mph and smoothly changing lanes on its own. — Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 10 May 2022 Jensen’s Schoenstein thinks that’s unlikely for steady-growing Microsoft. — Anne Sraders, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2021 Like a steady-flowing river, WANs deliver continuous service, even during peak hours. — David Joosten, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2021 Zucchini also contains magnesium, another important mineral that helps keep heart rhythm steady. — Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Good Housekeeping, 28 Apr. 2021 Will colleges struggling to hold their enrollments steady become even less selective? — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021 Then in his early 20s, Beasley had already landed a touring gig as part of Sergio Méndes’ band but was trying to work his way into steady-paying studio sessions. — Randall Roberts, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2021 Staying steady through waves of uncertainty is kind of her superpower. — Macaela Mackenzie, Glamour, 27 May 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But the Scenic Eclipse's cutting-edge oversize stabilizers held her steady. — Christopher P. Baker, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2022 Lue has had the steady of hand of starting point guard Reggie Jackson to help steer the Clippers along with center Ivica Zubac. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2022 Keeping the price steady could help in an economy that's still dealing with the ongoing pandemic, but Xbox's strategy is less focused on selling new hardware than Sony's (SNE). — Shannon Liao, CNN, 9 Sep. 2020 Officials voted to hold their benchmark rate steady in a range between 1.5% and 1.75% at the meeting after cutting it by a quarter percentage point at each of its previous three meetings. — Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2020 As slack vanishes, job growth slows, the employment rate reaches full-employment levels, and wage growth steadies at rates consistent with productivity growth. — Edward P. Lazear, WSJ, 18 June 2019 Production eventually steadies, but at much lower levels. — Aldo Svaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2019 Opening the annual session of China’s legislature on Tuesday, Premier Li Keqiang laid out plans to fend off risks in the economy and keep the nation’s jobless rate steady. — Lingling Wei, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2019 The break-even rate refers to the amount of monthly payroll gains needed to keep the jobless rate steady. — Michael S. Derby, WSJ, 14 Nov. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'steady.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of steady

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

Learn More About steady

Dictionary Entries Near steady

stead of

steady

steady as a rock

Statistics for steady

Last Updated

6 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Steady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steady. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for steady

steady

adjective

\ ˈste-dē

steadier; steadiest

Kids Definition of steady

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : firmly fixed in position Make sure the ladder is steady.

2 : direct or sure in action She worked with steady hands. I took steady aim.

3 : lasting or continuing over time a steady flow of water I found a steady job.

4 : not easily upset steady nerves

5 : reliable a steady worker

Other Words from steady

steadily \ ˈste-də-lē \ adverb

steadiness \ ˈste-dē-nəs \ noun

steady

verb

steadied; steadying

Kids Definition of steady (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make, keep, or become steady He put on some music to steady his nerves. I put the stepladder next to the cart and steadied it with one hand …— Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control