steady state

noun

: a state or condition of a system or process (such as one of the energy states of an atom) that does not change in time

broadly : a condition that changes only negligibly over a specified time

steady-state

ˈste-dē-ˈstāt 

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Someone who is muscular can consume more protein and glucose to maintain a steady state. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023

Petri dishes containing one of the cell types were placed under the nail polish dryer for a 20-minute session, removed for one hour to return to their steady state, and then returned for an additional 20-minute session to replicate acute exposure. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023

That’s why top trainers still don't hesitate to incorporate the OG cardio training method—low intensity steady state (LISS) training—into their clients’ weekly routines. —Men's Health, 30 Jan. 2023

Overnight, people are being advised not to worry and, essentially, to fend for themselves – a head-spinning change for a population living in a steady state of anxiety from mass testing, constant health surveillance, and the ever-present risk of draconian lockdowns. —Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Dec. 2022

What does that steady state look like? —Stat Staff, STAT, 10 Sep. 2020

Gusty southwest winds keep temperatures in a nearly steady state with lows in the upper 50s to low 60s. —David Streit, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2023

Extended periods of steady state cardio, like jogging, won’t do much to cut down your spare tire. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 26 Jan. 2023

The research provides evidence that these forests haven’t reached a new steady state in the midst of the altered fire regime, resulting in a net loss of trees, said co-author Jim Randerson, professor of earth system science at UC Irvine. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

steady state

noun

: a state or condition of a system or process that does not change or changes only slightly over time

on the average a living cell maintains a steady state

Medical Definition

steady state

noun

1

: a state or condition of a system or process (as one of the energy states of an atom) that does not change in time

2

: a state of physiological equilibrium especially in connection with a specified metabolic relation or activity