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
Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
To the naked eye, Saturn will be a steady, golden point of light that won’t twinkle, as stars do.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
George Avalos, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
And Herbert — much like Jones and Indy — has a stable of receivers available for quick-hits underneath, from second-year slot star Ladd McConkey (11 catches for 122 yards) to steady veteran Keenan Allen (12 for 129).
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 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
Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Looking Ahead As the labor market steadies, organizations appear poised to refine rather than continually expand their benefit strategies.
—Cynthia Pong, Jd, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steady
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adjective
With fuel costs remaining steady the last few months and less expensive than earlier in 2025, the number of states averaging less than $3 per gallon has increased compared to 2024.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
To the naked eye, Saturn will be a steady, golden point of light that won’t twinkle, as stars do.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Some analysts express hope the Bay Area’s innovation economy can help steady the region’s wobbly job market, especially if cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence spark hiring in this region.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
And Herbert — much like Jones and Indy — has a stable of receivers available for quick-hits underneath, from second-year slot star Ladd McConkey (11 catches for 122 yards) to steady veteran Keenan Allen (12 for 129).
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 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
Still, no matter how much Seydoux sparkles or Wedler steadies, this is Leung’s film.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Looking Ahead As the labor market steadies, organizations appear poised to refine rather than continually expand their benefit strategies.
—Cynthia Pong, Jd, Forbes, 19 Jan. 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 20 Sep. 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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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