steady
/ˈstedi/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈɛdi] /ˈstedi/ (ame, ipa) · [stˈɛdi] /ˈste-dē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsted.i/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈɛdi] /ˈsted.i/ (ame, ipa)
steady — adjective
- steadypositive
- steadiercomparative
- steadiestsuperlative
1. happening at a slow but regular pace, with no sudden jumps or pauses — for examp
happening at a slow but regular pace, with no sudden jumps or pauses — for example, a steady rise in temperature, a steady flow of visitors, or steady progress in learning a new skill.
Tourist numbers visiting the island have seen a steady increase over five years.
collocation: steady increase
Noor kept up a steady pace while running, finishing the race in a good time.
A steady stream of customers entered the bakery all morning.
Wei was happy to see steady progress in his Mandarin pronunciation after months of practice.
The company reported steady growth in sales for the third quarter.
- gradual
focuses on slowness rather than regularity
- consistent
emphasises lack of contradiction or variation
- uniform
suggests evenness across every part, often more formal
用法筆記
Frequently modifies nouns like increase, decline, flow, stream, pace, progress, and growth. Often used with economic or statistical data.
常見錯誤
2. firmly held or positioned so that nothing shakes, wobbles, or falls; not likely
firmly held or positioned so that nothing shakes, wobbles, or falls; not likely to tip over or lose balance.
The ladder did not feel steady, so Aarav asked his brother to hold the bottom.
subject is a physical object; 'hold steady' pattern
João kept his hand steady while the doctor stitched the cut on his arm.
Make sure the table legs are steady before you put the heavy vase on it.
The old wooden chair was not steady enough for Luca to stand on.
Mayumi needed a steady surface to write her calligraphy properly.
用法筆記
Commonly used with nouns for physical objects: ladder, hand, table, surface, chair, boat. The opposite sense (unsteady) is frequent with elderly people or injured body parts.
常見錯誤
3. describes a job or income that you can count on to last for many years, giving y
describes a job or income that you can count on to last for many years, giving you a regular paycheck and no fear of sudden loss.
After years of short-term contracts, Eli finally found a steady job at the hospital.
collocation: steady job
The fisherman had a steady income from selling his catch at the weekly market.
collocation: steady income
Obi turned down the freelance offer because he needed steady work to support his family.
Élise was relieved to have a steady source of income after graduating from nursing school.
The factory has provided steady employment for three generations of the same family.
用法筆記
Almost always appears before nouns like job, work, income, employment, or source of income. Not used predicatively in this sense (❌ 'His job is steady').
常見錯誤
4. able to stay calm and in control of your emotions or reactions, especially when
able to stay calm and in control of your emotions or reactions, especially when facing stress, danger, or pressure.
The pilot's steady voice over the radio helped reassure the passengers during the storm.
collocation: steady voice
Jenna took a breath and fixed her eyes on the target with a steady gaze.
collocation: steady gaze / steady eyes
The surgeon's hands remained steady throughout the long and complex operation.
When the fire alarm went off, the teacher stayed steady and guided the children out.
A steady patient usually recovers faster because they do not panic about every small symptom.
- calm
focuses more on the absence of agitation than on control
- composed
more formal; suggests deliberate self-control
- unflappable
informal; describes someone who never gets upset, even in chaos
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 5 (RELIABLE): this sense focuses on emotional composure in the moment, while sense 5 describes a person's general character as trustworthy over time. 'Steady nerves' is a very common collocation.
常見錯誤
5. sensible and dependable in character, so that other people trust your judgment a
sensible and dependable in character, so that other people trust your judgment and know you will act responsibly over time.
Luca is a steady friend who always listens without judging and keeps his promises.
collocation: steady friend
The board chose the most steady candidate for the finance director position.
Ada's steady advice helped the younger students decide which courses to choose.
Matthew needed a steady partner for the business, someone who would not take foolish risks.
The team relied on Noor's steady judgment during the difficult negotiations with the client.
- reliable
broader; can apply to people, machines, and information
- dependable
very similar; emphasises that someone can be counted on
- level-headed
more informal; describes someone who stays rational under pressure
- unreliable
describes someone who cannot be trusted to do what they say
- flighty
informal; describes someone who changes their mind or mood quickly
用法筆記
Applies to people and their qualities (friend, partner, judgment, advice), not to objects or systems. When applied to relationships, it suggests loyalty and consistency rather than emotional composure (sense 4).
常見錯誤
steady — verb
- steadypresent simple I / you / we / they
- steadies3rd person singular
- steadying-ing form
- steadiedpast simple
1. to hold something firmly so that it stops shaking, wobbling, or moving, or to ke
to hold something firmly so that it stops shaking, wobbling, or moving, or to keep it in a fixed position.
Wei steadied the camera on a stack of books before taking the group photo.
The nurse steadied the patient's arm before inserting the needle.
João grabbed the railing to steady himself as the train left the station.
Aarav held the ladder steady while his father climbed up to fix the roof tiles.
The boat rocked wildly, so Luca had to steady the sail to avoid tipping over.
文法句型
steady + object
用法筆記
Often used reflexively (steady oneself) when someone steadies their own body by holding onto something. The object is usually something physical: a camera, a ladder, a boat, your arm, or yourself.
常見錯誤
2. to return to a calm, controlled emotional state after something has upset or fri
to return to a calm, controlled emotional state after something has upset or frightened you, or to help another person regain that composure.
Mayumi closed her eyes and breathed deeply to steady her nerves before the interview.
collocation: steady (someone's) nerves
Eli steadied himself with a glass of water before walking onto the stage to speak.
reflexive: steady oneself with [something]
The market steadied after the central bank announced new interest rate policies.
Obi tried to steady his breathing as the dentist prepared the injection.
Noor steadied her voice enough to thank the crowd before walking off the podium.
- calm down
more common in everyday speech; less formal
- compose oneself
more formal; suggests deliberately arranging one's emotions
- settle
applies to both people (after excitement) and markets (after volatility)
文法句型
steady oneself
steady + object + emotion noun
steady (intransitive, emotions)
用法筆記
When transitive, the object is usually a reflexive pronoun (yourself), an emotion (nerves, breathing), or a physical manifestation of emotion (voice, hands). The intransitive use is common with financial markets (prices steadied, the market steadied).
常見錯誤
steady — adverb
1. to date only each other in a committed partnership, seeing no other people, typi
to date only each other in a committed partnership, seeing no other people, typically for a long stretch of time.
Matthew and Ada have been going steady since they met at the summer music camp.
phrase: go steady with someone
Jenna asked Aarav to go steady, but he said he was not ready yet.
Élise felt that going steady gave her a sense of security in the relationship.
Wei and his girlfriend started going steady after dating for six months.
In high school, Luca asked Noor to go steady and he happily agreed.
文法句型
go steady (with someone)
用法筆記
This sense only appears in the fixed phrase 'go steady (with someone).' The phrase was very common in the mid-20th century and is still understood today, though younger speakers may prefer 'dating exclusively' or 'in a relationship.'
常見錯誤
2. in a smooth, continuous, and controlled way, without sudden changes in speed, le
in a smooth, continuous, and controlled way, without sudden changes in speed, level, or direction.
The price of rice has risen steady over the past decade, affecting many families.
adverb modifying a verb of change
Luca drove steady through the rain, keeping both hands on the wheel at all times.
The old clock ticked steady in the hallway, marking each second with a soft sound.
Obi worked steady on the painting for three hours without taking a break.
- erratically
describes unpredictable or irregular movement or change
用法筆記
In modern English, 'steadily' is far more common as the adverb form. 'Steady' used as a flat adverb (without -ly) in this sense is informal and appears mainly in fixed expressions like 'go steady,' 'hold steady,' or in sports commentary ('the ball rolled steady').