adj
steady
STEH-dee
adj
1
Firmly fixed or balanced; not shaking or wobbling.
"Hold the ladder steady while I climb up."
"Her hands were steady even under pressure in the operating room."
2
Regular and consistent, without sudden changes.
"The economy has shown steady growth this year."
3
Calm and reliable in temperament, especially under stress.
"He's a steady presence in the locker room during tense games."
verb
1
To make something stable or stop it from shaking.
"She steadied herself against the railing as the boat rocked."
How to Use Steady
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStable, consistent, and reliable — whether describing a hand, a pace, or a person's nerve.
Common mistake
"Going steady" is an informal, slightly dated way to describe an exclusive romantic relationship, not a description of someone's balance.
Common pairings
steady hand
steady pace
steady job
steady on
Word Forms
steadier comparative, steadied past tense, steadies plural, steadies singular, steadiest superlative
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Etymology
From Middle English stedy, built from stead ("place") plus -y, originally meaning "firmly fixed in place."