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
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
steadied; steadying
: to make or keep steady
: to become steady
steadier
noun
1
: in a steady manner : steadily
2
: on the course set
—used as a direction to the helmsman of a ship
plural steadies
: one that is steady
specifically
: a boyfriend or girlfriend with whom one goes steady
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
Following a few months of absolute chaos, as Nuno Espirito Santo talked himself out of a job and was replaced by Ange Postecoglou — a man with a footballing ethos that could not have been more different — Dyche is very much needed, as a steady hand on the tiller.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s steadying hand and Brian Flores’ defense helped that team produce five wins.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The Stoner Mesa fire held steady at about 7,390 acres in the San Juan National Forest northeast of Dolores on Friday morning.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Hold your phone steady so the entire page is visible.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steady
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The Bosu ball squat also works your abdominal muscles as well as your hip and ankle stabilizers, which play a key role in keeping you steady.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
Following a few months of absolute chaos, as Nuno Espirito Santo talked himself out of a job and was replaced by Ange Postecoglou — a man with a footballing ethos that could not have been more different — Dyche is very much needed, as a steady hand on the tiller.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
But the unperturbed Simpson steadied the Tide again, dropping 28- and 25-yard completions to set up Miller’s score before halftime.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s steadying hand and Brian Flores’ defense helped that team produce five wins.
—Omar Kelly
updated October 19, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Adverb
The University of Buffalo and Arizona State University have both reported substantial declines, but initial data from Columbia University and Princeton University showed their international enrollment holding steady compared to last year.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The Stoner Mesa fire held steady at about 7,390 acres in the San Juan National Forest northeast of Dolores on Friday morning.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Land softly, and keep your pelvis steady and your back straight.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
Hold your phone steady so the entire page is visible.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steady
Cite this Entry
“Steady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steady. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
steady
1 of 4 adjective
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
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