steadily
/ˈstedəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstedəli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstedᵊl|ē -də̇l|, |i, dialectal ˈstid- also ˈstəd-/ (ame, mw)
steadily — adverb
1. in a way that happens at a regular pace or by small amounts over time, without s
in a way that happens at a regular pace or by small amounts over time, without sudden jumps or stops.
The cost of living has been steadily increasing over the past few years.
present perfect progressive + steadily + increasing
Emre steadily improved his Mandarin by studying for twenty minutes every day.
steadily + past simple verb of improvement
The company's profits have grown steadily since the new manager took over.
Padma watched the temperature steadily drop as the sun went down.
Apinya's reading skills have steadily expanded through daily practice.
- gradually
focuses on slowness rather than regularity; 'steadily' implies evenness, 'gradually' implies a slow pace
- consistently
emphasises reliability over time; 'consistently' is more about dependability than rate
- evenly
highlights the equal spacing or distribution; more literal for physical quantities
- erratically
opposite kind of movement — sudden, irregular changes
- unevenly
opposite in distribution or pace — not at a regular rate
文法句型
steadily + [verb of change]
be + [verb]ing + steadily
have + [past participle] + steadily
用法筆記
Frequently paired with verbs of change — increase, decrease, improve, grow, decline, rise, fall. The focus is on the regularity of the change, not its speed.
常見錯誤
2. in a calm, controlled, and confident manner, without wavering or being interrupt
in a calm, controlled, and confident manner, without wavering or being interrupted by outside events.
Despite the loud noise outside, the speaker continued steadily with her presentation.
continued steadily + despite [distraction] — adversity context
Adaeze looked steadily at the interviewer and answered every question with confidence.
looked steadily at [person] — controlled gaze
Dario took a deep breath and rowed steadily toward the shore in the choppy water.
Folake held the camera steadily while filming the sunset over the hills.
The surgeon's hands moved steadily throughout the long and delicate operation.
- calmly
focuses on emotional state rather than physical control; 'calmly' is more about inner peace
- firmly
emphasises strength of purpose or grip; 'firmly' suggests resolve
- composedly
more formal; highlights self-possession under pressure
- unsteadily
the direct opposite — lacking physical or emotional control
- shakily
specifically about trembling or unreliable movement
文法句型
steadily + [verb of perception/action]
verb + steadily + preposition + [object]
用法筆記
Common with verbs of looking, holding, speaking, or performing skilled physical actions. The emphasis is on composure and control, often in situations where staying calm is difficult.