From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsteadystead‧y1 /ˈstedi/ ●●○ W3 adjective 1 continuousCONTINUOUS continuing or developing gradually or without stopping, and not likely to change Paul is making steady progress. a steady rainhold/remain steady Employment is holding steady at 96%.steady stream/flow/trickle etc a steady stream of traffic2 not movingBALANCE firmly held in a particular position and not moving or shaking → stablehold/keep something steady Keep the camera steady while you take a picture. It takes a steady hand to perform surgery.3 → steady job/work/income4 voice/look if someone’s voice is steady, or they look at you in a steady way, they seem calm and do not stop speaking or looking at you There were tears in her eyes, but her voice was steady. He could not meet Connor’s steady gaze.5 personDEPEND/IT DEPENDS someone who is steady is sensible and you can depend on them a steady worker6 → steady boyfriend/girlfriend7 → steady relationship —steadiness noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONSnounssteady progressWe're making steady progress in reducing the unemployment rate.steady growthDuring the 1960s most of the Western world enjoyed steady economic growth.a steady increase/riseThe campus has benefited from a steady increase in student numbers.a steady declineThe result has been a steady decline in membership.a steady stream/flow/trickleAll day long a steady stream of customers came and went.a steady supplyThey need a steady supply of educated workers.a steady pace/rateHe moved at a slow and steady pace through the maze of corridors.verbshold/remain steadyA recent poll showed his approval rating holding steady at 53 percent.phrasesslow but/and steadyShe is making a slow but steady recovery.
Examples from the Corpus
steady• We drove all day at a steady 65 miles an hour.• Hold the ladder steady.• She held on to hand rails to keep herself steady.• Fong thought of the back room, warm with the steady breaths of Soo and the children.• The study also notes a steady decline in the number of college students taking science courses.• Television has contributed to the steady decline of solemnity in the courtroom.• the steady destruction of the forests• Economists say they expect continued steady growth throughout the year.• It's important to keep the temperature of the oven at a steady high heat.• Chen maintained a steady pace throughout the race.• We need a steady platform above the waves before we can start drilling.• Marisol has made steady progress this year.• His breaths got steadier, quieter.• They coped well with steady rain making me question the need for overtrousers in milder seasons.• steady rain• Larger families were being rehoused at a steady rate.• Hadn't they all agreed to keep to a nice, steady speed after the immediate getaway?• It starts at zero and eventually the galaxies are moving apart at a steady speed.• A steady stream of planks and tarpaper and logs was thumping the tree, pushing it farther over.• A steady stream of refugees arrived at the camp.• The United States has traditionally offered the poor relatively easy access to the middle class if they can find steady work.hold/remain steady• Continue these small heading changes of 5° or less, until the needle remains steady.• It seemed to her that her mind was like an overfilled glass which only she could hold steady.• Rising capital growth also helped the retail sector retain its high return of 10.9 percent, again with rentals holding steady.• San Antonio outlets reported a decrease in overall funding and fewer volunteers, though food donations remained steady.• Fusion funding remains steady, but with the money now divided mostly between the two leading machines, the tokamak and mirror-fusion.• Mr Moszkowski expects those returns to hold steady for the fourth and first quarters.• The wind and the cold made it impossible to hold steady over putts.a steady hand• This is still a job for scissors and a steady hand.• Gluing toothpicks takes a steady hand and a lot of patience, Sanchez said.• Gluing toothpicks takes a steady hand and a lot of patience.• A painstaking job, needing a steady hand, especially on such a famous trophy.• With tenderness, with a steady hand, he began to stroke me there in the room.• Good binoculars and a steady hand may reveal it as a thin crescent.• She has any eye for detail and a steady hand to piece it all together.• He found he had such a steady hand with his safety razor that he was prepared to go all the way. steadysteady2 verb (steadied, steadying, steadies) 1 [intransitive, transitive]BALANCE to hold someone or something so they become more balanced or controlled, or to become more balanced or controlledsteady yourself He reached the chair and steadied himself. The plane steadied, and the passengers relaxed.2 [intransitive]SAME to stop increasing or decreasing and remain about the same SYN stabilize The dollar has steadied after early losses on the money markets.3 CALM[intransitive, transitive] to become calmer, or to make someone do this Tamar took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Jess is a steadying influence on the rest of the team.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
steady• When she looked as though she was going to fall, Eddie's arm immediately went out to steady her.• She clutched the rail to steady herself, reached the deck and went to the closed doors of the lounge.• Once when they went round a corner she swayed against him and caught his arm to steady herself.• He held the boy's shoulders to steady him and Ben, startled and breathless, looked up into his face.• The spectacle that confronted him was so overwhelming that he all but stumbled in alarm before the policeman caught and steadied him.• He steadied himself self-consciously, waving aside any further help.• He stood up, holding on to the desk to steady himself.• He pushed himself to his feet and tried to steady himself.• When the plane had steadied, Nancy went back to her seat.steady yourself• Charles put his hands on the seat to steady himself.• He put his hands on the inside wall of the coach to steady himself.• Once when they went round a corner she swayed against him and caught his arm to steady herself.• I steady myself against the wall.• The officer steadied himself by grasping the windshield, but didn't miss a beat in his spiel.• To steady himself, he hugged a sculptured torso.• He steadied himself self-consciously, waving aside any further help.• He steadied himself, then shot out both hands and gripped it, hauling himself up the wall to the beckoning entrance.steady ... nerves• Above all, what is clear is that this has become a poker game only for those with the steadiest of nerves.• And he may have taken a drink or two to steady his nerves.• Next, drink the large Scotch to steady the nerves.• That's if the woman ever prays, Isabel reflected, holding on to the random thought to steady her shaky nerves.• They finally found him in a bar where he had gone to steady his nerves.• For the demolition parties the days of scheming and planning were over: now they needed steady nerves and physical strength.• They may have an extra glass - or in some cases bottle - to steady the nerves tonight. steadysteady3 adverb → go steady (with somebody)Examples from the Corpus
steady• Nigel Lawson, it seemed, was neither holding the pound steady abroad nor keeping down prices at home.• After long years of layoffs, steel employment is now holding steady, and output is up.• Black burn looked port and spotted his brother rowing strong and steady, his dory still full of fish.• My mind locks in: take it steady, keep cool and don't kick at the ice!• Thus, slow and steady wins the race, but timing is everything.steadysteady4 noun (plural steadies) [countable] American English old-fashioned informalGIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND a boyfriend or girlfriend that someone has been having a romantic relationship withsteadysteady5 interjection 1 CAREFULused when you want to tell someone to be careful or not to cause an accident Steady! You nearly knocked me over.2 → steady on!Examples from the Corpus
steady• Steady! Watch what you're doing.From Longman Business Dictionarysteadystead‧y1 /ˈstedi/ adjective1happening, developing, or moving in a continuous gradual wayThere has been a steady decline in demand over the past 12 months.The market has experienced three years of steady growth.We continue to make steady progress in improving key areas of our business.2staying at about the same levelSoftware dealers found that prices are steady in spite of the currency fluctuation.In December, energy prices plunged 1.4% after holding steady the month before.3steady job/work/income a job or work that will definitely continue over a long period of timeFor years, the promise of steady work attracted waves of immigrants to the area. —steadily adverbBusiness has steadily increased year by year. —steadiness noun [uncountable]sterling’s relative steadiness against other currenciessteadysteady2 verb (past tense and past participle steadied) [intransitive, transitive] to stop increasing or decreasing and stay about the same, or to make something do thisThe dollar has steadied after early losses on the money markets.Some cautious buying by Japanese life insurance companies steadied the market.→ See Verb tableOrigin steady1 (1200-1300) stead 