Link Centre Dictionary

steady

UK/ˈstɛdi/ US/ˈstɪdi/ common informal

adjective

1.

not subject to change or variation especially in behavior

  • “a steady beat”
  • “a steady job”
  • “a steady breeze”
  • “a steady increase”
  • “a good steady ballplayer”
2.

persistent in occurrence and unvarying in nature

  • “maintained a constant temperature”
  • “a constant beat”
  • “principles of unvarying validity”
  • “a steady breeze”
3.

not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall

  • “stocks are still firm”
Similar
4.

securely in position; not shaky

  • “held the ladder steady”
Similar
5.

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

  • “firm convictions”
  • “a firm mouth”
  • “steadfast resolve”
  • “a man of unbendable perseverence”
  • “unwavering loyalty”
6.

relating to a person who does something regularly

  • “a regular customer”
  • “a steady drinker”
Synonyms
Similar
7.

not easily excited or upset

  • “steady nerves”

verb

1.

make steady

  • “steady yourself”
Synonyms
2.

support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace

  • “brace your elbows while working on the potter”

noun

1.

a person loved by another person

adverb

1.

in a steady manner

  • “he could still walk steadily”
Synonyms
Antonyms

Origin

From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“steady”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig. Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”) and Dutch steeds (“more and more”). Adjective sense 8 is a semantic loan from Singapore Hokkien 在 (chāi, “confident, skilled”, literally “steady”).

Phrases

  • go steady
  • land of steady habits
  • ready, steady, go
  • rock steady
  • slow and steady wins the race
  • steady as a rock
  • steady as she goes
  • Steady Eddie
  • steady the ship

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.