English Explanatory Dictionary

steady

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
  2. Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.
  3. Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.
  4. Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.
  5. Regular and even.
  6. Slow.
  7. With whom one is going steady.
  8. Confident and cool-headed under pressure; competent; reliable, adept.
verb
  1. To stabilize; to prevent from shaking.
  2. To become stable.
particle
  1. Aspect marker indicating consistency or intensity.
noun
  1. A rest or support, as for the hand, a tool, or a piece of work.
  2. A regular boyfriend or girlfriend.
  3. A prostitute's regular customer.
adv
  1. To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.
intj
  1. Alright!, way to go!, nice!

Pronunciation

stĕdʹi /ˈstɛdi/ stĭdʹi stŭdʹi /ˈstɪdi/ /ˈstʌdi/ en-us-steady.ogg

Word forms

steady steadier steadiest steddy stedy steadies steadying steadied

Etymology

From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“steady”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig. Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”) and Dutch steeds (“more and more”). Adjective sense 8 is a semantic loan from Singapore Hokkien 在 (chāi, “confident, skilled”, literally “steady”).

Synonyms

staunch unyielding uniform unvarying ponderous stately consistent equable equal even even-keeled monotonous regular samely stable steady uncheckered unvaried robust solid untottering level dogged fluid even-tempered constant glacial steady pom pi pi

Antonyms

unsteady

Derived words

go steady land of steady habits non-quasi-steady nonsteady oversteady ready, steady, go rock-steady rocksteady rock steady slow and steady wins the race Steadicam steadily steadiness steady as a rock steady as she goes steady-as-she-goes Steady Eddie steady-going steady hand at the tiller steady-handed steady hand on the tiller steadyish steady on steady pom pi pi steady state steady-state steady stater steady state theory steady the ship
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