steady Meaning & Definition
What Does Steady Mean?
As an adjective, steady means Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm. It is also used to mean Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute. As a verb, it means To stabilize; to prevent from shaking. As a particle, it means Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.
Word Facts for Steady
| Part of speech | adjective, verb, particle, noun, adverb, interjection |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈstɛdi/ |
| Synonyms | steadfast, secure and unwavering |
| Antonyms | unsteady, falteringly and unsteadily |
| Plural | steadies |
| Comparative / superlative | steadier, steadiest |
| Verb forms | steadies, steadying, steadied |
Steady Definition (Adjective)
- Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
Hold the ladder steady while I go up.
- Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object
- Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
a steady ride
- Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
a steady tone of voice
- Regular and even.
the steady course of the Sun; a steady breeze of wind
- Slow.
- With whom one is going steady.
- Confident and cool-headed under pressure; competent; reliable, adept.
Steady as a Verb
- To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.
I took a drink to steady my nerves.
- To become stable.
Steady as a Particle
- Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.
Why you steady cappin'?
Steady as a Noun
- A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.
- A regular boyfriend or girlfriend; somebody to go steady with.
- A prostitute's regular customer.
Steady as an Adverb
- To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.
After the sprint pieces, we rowed steady for the rest of practice.
Steady as an Interjection
- Alright!, way to go!, nice!
Synonyms of Steady
Antonyms of Steady
Steady in a Sentence
Hold the ladder steady while I go up.
a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object
a steady ride
a steady tone of voice
the steady course of the Sun; a steady breeze of wind
I took a drink to steady my nerves.
Why you steady cappin'?
(The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:)
After the sprint pieces, we rowed steady for the rest of practice.
Word Forms & Grammar
steady (comparative steadier, superlative steadiest)
steady (third-person singular simple present steadies, present participle steadying, simple past and past participle steadied)
steady
steady (plural steadies)
steady (not comparable)
Words That Rhyme With Steady
Origin of Steady
Origin 1: From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“steady”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig.
Origin 2: Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”) and Dutch steeds (“more and more”).
Origin 3: Adjective sense 8 is a semantic loan from Singapore Hokkien 在 (chāi, “confident, skilled”, literally “steady”).
Questions People Ask About Steady
Is steady an adjective or a verb?
Steady is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a verb, a particle, a noun, an adverb and an interjection.
What is another word for steady?
Close synonyms of steady are steadfast, secure and unwavering. See the full list of steady synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of steady?
The opposite of steady can be expressed with words like unsteady, falteringly, unsteadily and uncertainly.
What is the plural of steady?
The plural of steady is steadies.
What is the past tense of steady?
The past tense of steady is steadied. The present participle is steadying.