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
Synonyms
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
Alicia Wallace, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
Food has sold well at the two stands, one located on Cutting Boulevard and the other further down 23rd Street, with both selling out of its al pastor daily and a steady stream of customers lining up on weekends.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2024
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2024
Calhoun had joined the company with the mandate to steady the business following two deadly crashes of Boeing aircraft in 2018 and 2019, to which Boeing earlier this month agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 31 July 2024
Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2024
There are a few different ways to measure Americans’ steady turn against the death penalty.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 22 Dec. 2022
Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Make sure to keep your pelvis steady and your back straight.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 23 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for steady 
Adjective
Inflation expectations at the one- and five-year horizons held steady at 3% and 2.8%, respectively, according to the New York Fed survey.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 13 Aug. 2024
Food has sold well at the two stands, one located on Cutting Boulevard and the other further down 23rd Street, with both selling out of its al pastor daily and a steady stream of customers lining up on weekends.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2024
Verb
As maintaining employment is the second half of the Fed’s mandate, analysts are hoping that a rate cut will be introduced in September to steady the employment market.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2024
Calhoun had joined the company with the mandate to steady the business following two deadly crashes of Boeing aircraft in 2018 and 2019, to which Boeing earlier this month agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 31 July 2024
Adverb
The stock has steady climbed over the period from more capital flowing into defensive stocks, and investors hopes that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in September.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2024
There are a few different ways to measure Americans’ steady turn against the death penalty.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 22 Dec. 2022
Noun
The state’s biggest health system had unrivaled clout with doctors and insurers, guaranteeing a steady of flow of patients.
—Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Make sure to keep your pelvis steady and your back straight.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 23 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for steady
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steady.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near steady
Cite this Entry
“Steady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steady. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
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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