unsteady
/ʌnˈstedi/ (bre, ipa) · /ʌnˈstedi/ (ame, ipa)
unsteady — adjective
- unsteadypositive
- more unsteadycomparative
- most unsteadysuperlative
1. moving or shaking slightly so that a person or object may fall or lose its posit
moving or shaking slightly so that a person or object may fall or lose its position
The old wooden ladder felt unsteady under Nicholas's weight.
collocation: feel unsteady / look unsteady / seem unsteady
After the long boat ride, Sayaka's legs were still unsteady on dry land.
Bao held the unsteady tray with both hands to keep the glasses from falling.
The patient took a few unsteady steps before the nurse helped her sit down.
Hugo's voice was unsteady as he described what he had witnessed.
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with body parts (legs, hands, voice, steps) or objects that can wobble (ladder, chair, table).
常見錯誤
2. not fixed or reliable in level, amount, or direction; likely to vary and therefo
not fixed or reliable in level, amount, or direction; likely to vary and therefore cause worry
The country's unsteady economy worried many small business owners.
collocation: unsteady economy / unsteady market / unsteady growth
Talia found it difficult to plan a wedding during those unsteady months at work.
Relations between the two nations remained unsteady after the border dispute.
Noor described the peace talks as unsteady because neither side would compromise.
An unsteady flow of tourists made it hard for the hotel to keep staff year-round.
- unstable
stronger sense of potential crisis or breakdown
- uncertain
focuses on the lack of predictability rather than variation itself
- fluctuating
suggests regular up-and-down changes
用法筆記
Used primarily of abstract nouns: economies, relationships, markets, political situations. Not used for physical objects.
常見錯誤
3. not even or uniform in speed, rhythm, or pattern; moving in a way that lacks a c
not even or uniform in speed, rhythm, or pattern; moving in a way that lacks a consistent beat or tempo
Chiara could hear the unsteady rhythm of her own heartbeat in the silent room.
collocation: unsteady rhythm / unsteady beat / unsteady pulse
The old car's engine made an unsteady sound, then stopped completely.
Élise tried to write quickly but her unsteady handwriting made the letters hard to read.
The machine produced an unsteady flow of glue, sometimes too much and sometimes too little.
用法筆記
Distinguish from Sense 1 (PHYSICAL INSTABILITY): this sense describes unevenness in a pattern or output, not a risk of falling. Distinguish from Sense 2 (LIKELY TO CHANGE): this sense is about irregular patterns in movement or operation, not about abstract uncertainty.
unsteady — verb
- unsteadypresent simple I / you / we / they
- unsteadies3rd person singular
- unsteadying-ing form
- unsteadiedpast simple
1. to cause someone or something to lose physical balance or become less stable in
to cause someone or something to lose physical balance or become less stable in position
The sudden jolt unsteadied the cyclist and nearly knocked him off the road.
transitive: [event] unsteadies [person]
Jason tried to lift the box, but its uneven weight unsteadied him.
A strong wave unsteadied the small fishing boat for a moment.
The news unsteadied Isabela so much that she sat down on the nearest chair.
- unbalance
more common; can refer to both physical and mental stability
- destabilise
more formal, often used for systems or structures
- shake
broader meaning, can be physical or emotional
- steady
to make stable or balanced
文法句型
unsteady + object
用法筆記
This verb is rare in everyday conversation. It is more common in literary or descriptive writing. The figurative sense (emotionally unsettling someone) exists but is very uncommon.