steady
/ˈstɛdi
/adjective (steadier, steadiest)
1Firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving: the lighter the camera, the harder it is to hold steady he refilled her glass with a steady hand...
- His hand, usually steady, is shaking; he must not let his agitation show.
- There is an uneasy sensation akin to loss of control, a whirlwind that trips my balance, sweeps me off my steady feet and into a foggy daze at odd times of the day.
- He was able to grab hold of a ledge and when he got a steady footing of his balance he turned to his right to find the drop ship making a slow bank and heading back the path they came.
Synonyms
stable, balanced, firm, fixed, secure, secured, fast, safe, immovable, unshakeable, dependable;
anchored, moored, jammed, rooted, braced, cemented, riveted, nailed, tied
motionless, still, unshaking, static, stationary, unmoving, sure
1.1Not faltering or wavering; controlled: a steady gaze she tried to keep her voice steady...
- Darre turned his cool green eyes on Carl, who faltered under his steady gaze.
- John's gaze was steady and unblinking as he stared into his daughter's blazing eyes.
- Who could have known that such this young boy possessed such extraordinary fighting skills, much more have it under steady control?
Synonyms
fixed, intent, immovable, immobile, unwavering, unfaltering
1.2(Of a person) sensible, reliable, and self-restrained: a solid, steady young man...
- He was one of the most sensible and steady people I've known, and not as humourless as that sounds.
- That would allow Isaac Smith to remain in the No.3 role, where he's steady and reliable.
- Poets are the most down-to-earth, loyal, steady people that have ever been.
Synonyms
sensible, level-headed, well balanced, balanced, rational, settled, mature, down-to-earth, full of common sense, stolid, calm, equable, imperturbable, reliable, dependable, sound, sober, serious-minded, responsible, serious
2Regular, even, and continuous in development, frequency, or intensity: a steady decline in the national birth rate sales remain steady...
- The steady decline and deterioration continued at an accelerated pace.
- During the seventeenth century Ireland, continuing its steady decline, came increasingly under England's rule.
- Most visitors came to inspect the institution in the first three years of its existence, but a steady stream continued to come in the years following.
Synonyms
constant, unchanging, changeless, unvarying, invariable, undeviating;
uniform, even, regular, consistent;
continuous, continual, unceasing, ceaseless, perpetual, unremitting, unwavering, unfaltering, unfluctuating, undying, unending, endless, round-the-clock, all-year-round;
reliable, dependable
2.1Not changing; regular and established: I thought I’d better get a steady job a steady boyfriend...
- My boyfriend at the time was not in a steady job and was confused as well.
- I've believe the exodus of good steady manufacturing jobs are at the crux of the spiritual disenfranchisement we are experiencing in our nation.
- But suddenly, in this economy, nursing looks more attractive, the prospect of a steady job with guaranteed work at the end of a degree.
Synonyms
regular, unchanging, habitual, usual, customary, established, settled, firm, devoted, faithful
2.2(Of a ship) moving without deviation from its course.Most of the passengers spent the time on the deck, as the ship was very steady despite the storm threat....
- You also know to hang on until the boat is steady again.
- As she was going to insert some cream on the laser burn, the ship jolted and the lights flickered and the ship was steady again.
verb (steadies, steadying, steadied)
Make or become steady: [with object]: I took a deep breath to steady my nerves (as adjective steadying) she’s the one steadying influence in his life [no object]: by May prices had steadied...
- I buried my head in my hands and tried to take a few steadying deep breaths to calm my nerves.
- He took a deep breath, steadying his voice as it rose slowly in hysteria.
- She interrupted, taking a deep breath and steadying her legs underneath her.
Synonyms
stabilize, make steady, hold steady;
secure, fix, make fast;
brace, support;
balance, poise
calm, calm down, soothe, quieten, quiet, compose, settle, pacify, lull;
subdue, quell, control, get a grip on;
sedate, tranquillize
exclamation
Used as a warning to someone to keep calm or take care: Steady now! We don’t want you hurting yourself
noun (plural steadies)
1 informal A person’s regular boyfriend or girlfriend: his steady chucked him two weeks ago...
- Could it be really possible that they haven't considered all the merits of having a steady (not necessarily permanent) boyfriend.
- As usual though, I had to go and ruin it - I found a steady girlfriend.
- He recoiled at the thought of allowing his steady girlfriend, Ms Boyle, from taking up more permanent residence in his home, and they went separate ways earlier this year.
2A strut for stabilizing a caravan or other vehicle when stationary.Sliding contact between the work piece and its support should be avoided, and the use of roller steadies and running centres is recommended.
Phrases
go steady
steady on!
Derivatives
steadier
- The poverty of the Tipperary team surprised, even considering the greater physical presence of the winners who were far steadier in the tackle.
- Without doubt our defence is a much steadier ship these days.
- Orr was the steadier of the two, going bogey-free, but it was Forsyth who left the course knowing he could and should have scored even better than he did.
steadiness
/ noun ...- It was in attack that Waterford lost this game, not for want of effort but for steadiness in finishing.
- We'll be close as we can to the team we play to make sure we retain a steadiness.
- Recently I have begun to wonder if these kinds of tests requiring cleverness instead of steadiness can really contribute to improve their English abilities.
Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'unwavering, without deviation'): from stead + -y1. The verb dates from the mid 16th century.