steady

 
Pronunciation: /ˈstɛdi/

adjective (steadier, steadiest)

  • 1firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving: the lighter the camera, the harder it is to hold steady he refilled her glass with a steady hand
  • not faltering or wavering; controlled: a steady gaze she tried to keep her voice steady
  • (of a person) sensible, reliable, and self-restrained: a solid, steady young man
  • 2regular, even, and continuous in development, frequency, or intensity: a steady decline in the national birth rate sales remain steady
  • not changing; regular and established: I thought I’d better get a steady job a steady boyfriend
  • (of a ship) moving without deviation from its course.

verb (steadies, steadying, steadied)

  • make or become steady: [with object]: I took a deep breath to steady my nerves (as adjective steadying) she’s the one steadying influence in his life [no object]: by May prices had steadied

exclamation

  • used as a warning to someone to keep calm or take care: Steady now! We don’t want you hurting yourself

noun (plural steadies)

  • 1 informal a person’s regular boyfriend or girlfriend: his steady chucked him two weeks ago
  • 2a strut for stabilizing a caravan or other vehicle when stationary.

Phrases

go steady

informal have a regular romantic or sexual relationship with someone: she started going steady with Sebastian

steady on!

British used as a way of exhorting someone to calm down or be more reasonable: Steady on, Mark! You’re talking about my best friend

Derivatives

steadier

noun

steadily

adverb

steadiness

noun

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'unwavering, without deviation'): from stead + -y1. The verb dates from the mid 16th century

Spelling rule

If a word ends in a consonant plus -y, change the -y to an -i before adding any ending (unless the ending already begins with an -i): (steadier, steadiest).