steady
/ˈstedi/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈɛdi] /ˈstedi/ (ame, ipa) · [stˈɛdi] /ˈste-dē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsted.i/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈɛdi] /ˈsted.i/ (ame, ipa)
steady — 形容詞
- steadypositive
- steadiercomparative
- steadiestsuperlative
1. happening at a slow but regular pace, with no sudden jumps or pauses — for examp
穩定；平穩
以平穩規律方式持續進行
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.
造訪這座島嶼的旅客人數在五年內穩定增加。
collocation: steady increase
Noor kept up a steady pace while running, finishing the race in a good time.
Noor 跑步時保持穩定的步伐，順利完成了比賽。
A steady stream of customers entered the bakery all morning.
整個上午，穩定的顧客人潮不斷走進麵包店。
Wei was happy to see steady progress in his Mandarin pronunciation after months of practice.
經過幾個月的練習，Wei 很開心看到自己的中文發音有穩定的進步。
The company reported steady growth in sales for the third quarter.
該公司第三季的銷售額呈現穩定成長。
- 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
穩固；不晃
位置固定不動，不會搖晃
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.
梯子不太穩固，所以 Aarav 請他弟弟扶住底部。
subject is a physical object; 'hold steady' pattern
João kept his hand steady while the doctor stitched the cut on his arm.
醫生縫合 João 手臂上的傷口時，他保持手部穩定不動。
Make sure the table legs are steady before you put the heavy vase on it.
把沈重的花瓶放上去之前，先確認桌腳是穩固的。
The old wooden chair was not steady enough for Luca to stand on.
那把舊木椅不夠穩固，Luca 無法站上去。
Mayumi needed a steady surface to write her calligraphy properly.
Mayumi 需要一個平穩的表面才能好好寫書法。
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
固定；長久
工作或收入有保障、可持續
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.
經過多年的短期合約之後，Eli 終於在醫院找到了一份穩定的工作。
collocation: steady job
The fisherman had a steady income from selling his catch at the weekly market.
那位漁夫每週在市場賣漁獲，收入相當穩定。
collocation: steady income
Obi turned down the freelance offer because he needed steady work to support his family.
Obi 拒絕了自由接案的邀約，因為他需要穩定的工作來養家。
Élise was relieved to have a steady source of income after graduating from nursing school.
Élise 從護理學校畢業後有了一份穩定的收入來源，感到如釋重負。
The factory has provided steady employment for three generations of the same family.
這間工廠連續三代為同一個家庭提供了穩定的就業機會。
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
冷靜；沉著
在壓力下保持情緒平穩
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.
機長在無線電中沉穩的聲音幫助乘客在暴風雨中安心下來。
collocation: steady voice
Jenna took a breath and fixed her eyes on the target with a steady gaze.
Jenna 深吸一口氣，用沉穩的目光凝視著目標。
collocation: steady gaze / steady eyes
The surgeon's hands remained steady throughout the long and complex operation.
那位外科醫生在漫長而複雜的手術中始終保持雙手穩定。
When the fire alarm went off, the teacher stayed steady and guided the children out.
火災警報響起時，那位老師依然沉著冷靜，引導孩子們離開。
A steady patient usually recovers faster because they do not panic about every small symptom.
情緒穩定的病人通常恢復較快，因為他們不會對每個小症狀感到驚慌。
- 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
可靠；穩重
個性穩重，值得信賴
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.
Luca 是個可靠的 friend，總是願意傾聽，不會隨意評斷，而且信守承諾。
collocation: steady friend
The board chose the most steady candidate for the finance director position.
董事會選擇了最穩當的候選人擔任財務總監一職。
Ada's steady advice helped the younger students decide which courses to choose.
Ada 穩重的建議幫助學弟妹選擇適合的課程。
Matthew needed a steady partner for the business, someone who would not take foolish risks.
Matthew 需要一位可靠的合夥人，一個不會冒險做出愚蠢決定的人。
The team relied on Noor's steady judgment during the difficult negotiations with the client.
團隊在與客戶的艱難談判中，仰賴 Noor 穩健的判斷力。
- 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 — 動詞
- 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
扶穩；穩住
固定某物使其不再搖晃
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.
Wei 把相機疊在一疊書上扶穩，然後拍了團體照。
The nurse steadied the patient's arm before inserting the needle.
護理師穩住病人的手臂，然後注射針劑。
João grabbed the railing to steady himself as the train left the station.
火車離站時，João 抓住扶手穩住自己。
Aarav held the ladder steady while his father climbed up to fix the roof tiles.
Aarav 扶穩梯子，讓父親爬上去修理屋頂瓦片。
The boat rocked wildly, so Luca had to steady the sail to avoid tipping over.
小船劇烈搖晃，Luca 必須穩住船帆以免翻覆。
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
平復；鎮定
讓情緒或市場恢復平穩
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.
Mayumi 閉上眼睛深吸一口氣，讓自己在面試前鎮定下來。
collocation: steady (someone's) nerves
Eli steadied himself with a glass of water before walking onto the stage to speak.
Eli 喝了一杯水讓自己冷靜，然後才走上台說話。
reflexive: steady oneself with [something]
The market steadied after the central bank announced new interest rate policies.
央行宣布新的利率政策後，市場穩定下來。
Obi tried to steady his breathing as the dentist prepared the injection.
牙醫師準備打針時，Obi 試圖平穩自己的呼吸。
Noor steadied her voice enough to thank the crowd before walking off the podium.
Noor 穩住自己的聲音向群眾道謝，然後走下講台。
- 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 — 副詞
1. to date only each other in a committed partnership, seeing no other people, typi
穩定交往
固定與某人談戀愛
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.
Matthew 和 Ada 從夏季音樂營認識後就一直穩定交往。
phrase: go steady with someone
Jenna asked Aarav to go steady, but he said he was not ready yet.
Jenna 問 Aarav 要不要穩定交往，但他說自己還沒準備好。
Élise felt that going steady gave her a sense of security in the relationship.
Élise 覺得穩定交往讓她在感情中有安全感。
Wei and his girlfriend started going steady after dating for six months.
Wei 和女友交往六個月後開始穩定下來。
In high school, Luca asked Noor to go steady and he happily agreed.
高中時，Luca 問 Noor 是否願意穩定交往，他開心地答應了。
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
平穩；穩定
以連續不間斷方式進行
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.
過去十年來，米的價格平穩上漲，影響了許多家庭。
adverb modifying a verb of change
Luca drove steady through the rain, keeping both hands on the wheel at all times.
Luca 在雨中平穩地駕駛，始終雙手握著方向盤。
The old clock ticked steady in the hallway, marking each second with a soft sound.
那座老時鐘在走廊裡平穩地滴答作響。
Obi worked steady on the painting for three hours without taking a break.
Obi 連續三個小時不停歇地穩定作畫。
- 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').