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)
c
: not given to dissipation : sober

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
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Transportation accidents remained steady in third place overall, but the second leading cause for women. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025 The jobless rate is forecast to remain steady at 4%. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
The move comes despite efforts to steady the ship under Mariët Westermann, who took over as director and chief executive in 2024. Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Feb. 2025 Salah teed up Szoboszlai, who took a touch to steady himself and drilled low past Ederson. James Pearce, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Adverb
Wednesday’s decision to hold the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate steady comes after officials reduced it by a total percentage point at three straight meetings late last year. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025 By 1892, people from northern Europe made up less than 50 percent of immigrants, and that percentage steady dropped as arrivals from Russia, Poland, Austria-Hungary, the Balkans, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey increased. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
Looking Ahead As the labor market steadies, organizations appear poised to refine rather than continually expand their benefit strategies. Cynthia Pong, Jd, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025 Fire containment steadies, further spread not ruled out Authorities said there was potential for growth in the east Horton Creek drainage area. Rey Covarrubias Jr., The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for steady

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of steady was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Steady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steady. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on steady

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