steady

adjective \ ˈste-dē \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

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Examples: steady in a Sentence

Definition of steady

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 : showing little variation or fluctuation : stable, uniform

a steady breeze

steady prices

3 a : 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

—

steadily

play \ˈste-də-lē\ adverb

—

steadiness

play \ˈste-dē-nəs\ noun

See steady defined for English-language learners

See steady defined for kids

Examples of steady in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of steady from the Web

In the Thursday’s first semifinal, Kerber, the highest seed remaining at No. 11, was much too steady and resourceful for another power player, 21-year-old Jelena Ostapenko.

— christopher clarey, New York Times, "Serena Williams, Enjoying Every Moment, Is Back in the Wimbledon Final," 12 July 2018
Inflation check: The Labor Department is expected to report Thursday that inflation held steady in June, with the consumer price index increasing 0.2%.

— david lazarus, latimes.com, "California Inc.: A tough job market for recent college grads," 9 July 2018
The pound sterling held steady after Davis’s announcement but slid after the Johnson resignation.

— karla adam, Washington Post, "Boris Johnson and ‘Brexit minister’ resign, leaving Theresa May’s government in disarray," 9 July 2018
More: Contract talks with Lions slow, but Golden Tate optimistic 2018 projection: Tate has been remarkably steady with seasons of 99, 90, 91 and 92 catches in Detroit.

— dave birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions 2018 most important: No. 11 Golden Tate dependable," 7 July 2018
Parker’s belief in himself, and in every instruction given to him by Popovich, was steady and relentless.

— mike finger, San Antonio Express-News, "Parker’s pride drove Spurs until the end," 6 July 2018
The pace was more steady in Lake County, which saw housing sales drop 3.9 percent year-over-year in May, while the median sales price increased a more modest 3.8 percent.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Homes sold, prices up solidly in Porter County," 29 June 2018
In New Orleans, Alcantara was steady but not dominant, finishing at least five innings in his last 12 starts, turning in walk-free performances just twice and not eclipsing seven strikeouts since his first start of the season on April 7.

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Sandy Alcantara 'can’t wait to get out there' for Marlins debut Friday night," 28 June 2018
In the vaccinated patients, A1c levels fell from an average of 7.36 before the first dose to 6.18 after five years, holding almost steady at 6.65 in the eighth year.

— sharon begley, STAT, "Controversial researcher’s diabetes vaccine causes improvement in small study," 21 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of steady

Middle English stedy, from stede

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

steady Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

steady

verb

Definition of steady

steadied; steadying

transitive verb

: to make or keep steady

intransitive verb

: to become steady

—

steadier

noun

See steady defined for English-language learners

Examples of steady in a Sentence

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 of steady from the Web

My father’s voice on the other side of the phone steadies me.

— sadia hassan, Longreads, "Silence is a Lonely Country: A Prayer in Twelve Parts," 13 July 2018
At that time, Robert could still do five or six miles a day, sometimes using hiking poles to steady himself.

— lynn peterson mobley, Washington Post, "My athletic husband stumbled. He was tired. He had a disease we’d never heard of.," 8 July 2018
The staff normally would have administered diltiazem, also known as Cardizem, that is used to steady an abnormal heart rate.

— katie thomas, New York Times, "Emergency Rooms Run Out of Vital Drugs, and Patients Are Feeling It," 1 July 2018
Court officers at one point had to steady him while a Spanish interpreter translated the proceedings.

— travis andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Go ahead. Take me, I killed my wife,’ Lynn man tells police," 26 Mar. 2018
The development hardly rattled the markets, as investors had weeks to steady their nerves.

— annabelle liang, The Seattle Times, "Asian markets mirror optimism on Wall Street," 10 July 2018
The same mind-set that got Rachael through labor can now steady her through life.

— anndee hochman, Philly.com, "The Parent Trip: Rachael and Justin Pines of Fishtown," 27 June 2018
When wind pushes the tower from one side, water will slosh in the other direction to steady the structure.

— ryan ori and jemal r. brinson, chicagotribune.com, "Don't look now, but at 50 stories, the Vista Tower is halfway done," 13 June 2018
Without centerback Mônica to steady the back line and make some key clearances, the Pride’s back line struggled to contain Courage forwards Jessica McDonald and Crystal Dunn.

— jordan culver, Pro Soccer USA, "Orlando Pride fall 4-3 to North Carolina Courage in wild match," 23 May 2018

First Known Use of steady

1530

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

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steady

adverb

Definition of steady

1 : in a steady manner : steadily

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

See steady defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of steady from the Web

But the refining sector shot back this week, arguing the market is holding steady even as dozens of refineries have been exempted.

— james osborne, Houston Chronicle, "Refiners at odds with agriculture secretary over ethanol demand," 18 May 2018
Among independents and Democrats, support for Trump testifying has held roughly steady compared with previous CNN polling on the topic.

— jennifer agiesta, CNN, "CNN Poll: Republicans shifting negative on Mueller's investigation," 10 May 2018
The defense stayed steady, until Saturday’s game in Boston — when shortstop Machado made two throwing errors and Valencia made a fielding error.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Bundy meets hard-luck fate again as Orioles lose third straight in Boston, 3-1," 15 Apr. 2018
Morning temperatures hold steady between about 30 and 34.

— jason samenow, Washington Post, "D.C.-area forecast: A winter resurgence with some snow early Tuesday and maybe Friday," 29 Jan. 2018
Climb on top of him, hugging his hips, and rock him steady all night long.

— aurora tower, Cosmopolitan, "Your Complete Love, Work, & Life Horoscope for 2017," 10 Jan. 2017
Britain’s central bank lowered its growth forecasts for this and next year and held its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.25% on Thursday, a move that only two policy makers dissented against rather than the three some analysts expected.

— jon sindreu, WSJ, "Pound, Gilt Yields Slide as BOE Rate-Increase Expectations Ease," 3 Aug. 2017
At the same time, demand for zinc—a lightweight, rustproof metal favored in the car and construction industries among others—has remained steady, eating away at the excess inventory.

— david hodari, WSJ, "Zinc Is in the Pink, as Mine Supply Struggles to Meet Demand," 10 July 2017
The European Central Bank, which held the benchmark interest rate steady at a historic low of zero percent, provided a timetable on Thursday for rolling back purchases of government and corporate debt, a program known as quantitative easing.

— jack ewing, New York Times, "As European Central Bank Eases Emergency Measures, Risks May Lurk," 25 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of steady

circa 1605

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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steady

noun

Definition of steady

plural steadies

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

See steady defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of steady from the Web

Employers have added more than 200,000 jobs a month this year, well above the level Fed officials think is needed to hold the jobless rate steady.

— nick timiraos, WSJ, "Jobs Report Keeps Fed’s June Rate Increase on Track," 1 June 2018
The Bank of Canada held its benchmark rate steady last week at 1.25%, and signaled rates could climb soon despite worries over trade uncertainty.

— paul vieira, WSJ, "Canada Growth at Risk Due to Heightened Trade Anxiety: IMF," 4 June 2018
Fed policy makers held their benchmark short-term interest rate steady in January, in a range between 1.25% and 1.5%, and signaled greater confidence that inflation would rise to their 2% target.

— harriet torry, WSJ, "Inflation Cooled in February," 13 Mar. 2018
Muguruza double faults on her opening point but steadies and wins the next the four.

— jamie lisanti, SI.com, "Live updates: Venus Williams takes on Garbine Muguruza in Wimbledon final," 15 July 2017
Officials voted unanimously to hold their benchmark rate steady in a range between 0.75% and 1%, after a two-day policy meeting Wednesday.

— nick timiraos, WSJ, "Fed Sees Growth Rebounding, Remains on Track for Two More Rate Rises in 2017," 3 May 2017
Officials voted unanimously to hold their benchmark rate steady in a range between 0.75% and 1%, after a two-day policy meeting.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: 10 storylines to follow as the House votes on health care," 4 May 2017
Following a two-day policy meeting, officials voted unanimously to hold their benchmark rate steady in a range between 0.50% and 0.75%, while noting in a statement some recent improvements in the economy, including an uptick in consumer confidence.

— david harrison, WSJ, "Fed Leaves Policy Rate Unchanged, Offers No Hint on When It Might Next Move," 1 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of steady

1792

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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STEADY Defined for English Language Learners

steady

verb

Definition of steady for English Language Learners

: to keep (something or someone) from moving, shaking, falling, etc.
: to cause (something) to stop changing, increasing, decreasing, etc.

steady

adverb

Definition of steady for English Language Learners

: in a steady way

steady

noun

Definition of steady for English Language Learners

: the only person you are having a romantic relationship with : the person you are going steady with

STEADY Defined for Kids

steady

adjective \ ˈste-dē \

Definition of steady for Students

steadier; steadiest

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 : showing little change

a steady flow of water

I found a steady job.

4 : not easily upset

steady nerves

5 : reliable

a steady worker

—

steadily

\ˈste-də-lē\ adverb

—

steadiness

\ˈste-dē-nəs\ noun

steady

verb

Definition of steady for Students

steadied; steadying

: 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

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steady

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steadier

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steady

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steady

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steady

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