steady

CEFRB1

/ˈstɛdi/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Firm, regular, and not likely to change suddenly.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Constant in feeling, purpose, or pursuit; not fickle, changeable, or wavering; not easily moved or persuaded to alter a purpose; resolute.

Examples

  • Steady the boat so we can get on safely.

  • We've had five years of steady economic growth.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.

  2. Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.

  3. Phlegmatic, calm; not easily upset, excited, or disturbed.

More examples

In context

  • Slow and steady wins the race.

  • Hold the ladder steady while I go up.

  • a man steady in his principles, in his purpose, or in the pursuit of an object

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The carpenter used a clamp to keep the board blank while he sawed it.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

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”).