steady
steady [steady steadies steadied steadying] adjective, verb, adverb, exclamation BrE [ˈstedi] NAmE [ˈstedi]
adjective (stead·ier, steadi·est)
1. developing, growing, etc. gradually and in an even and regular way
Syn: ↑constant
•five years of steady economic growth
•a steady decline in numbers
• We are making slow but steady progress.
• The castle receives a steady stream of visitors.
2. not changing and not interrupted
Syn: ↑regular
• His breathing was steady.
•a steady job/income
• She drove at a steady 50 mph.
•They set off at a steady pace.
•a steady boyfriend/girlfriend (= with whom you have a serious relationship or one that has lasted a long time)
•to have a steady relationship
3. firmly fixed, supported or balanced; not shaking or likely to fall down
• He held the boat steady as she got in.
• I met his steady gaze.
•Such fine work requires a good eye and a steady hand.
•She's not very steady on her feet these days.
Opp: ↑unsteady
4. (of a person)sensible; who can be relied on
more at ready, steady, go! at ↑ready adj.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘unwavering, without deviation’): from ↑stead + ↑-y. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.
Thesaurus:
steady adj.
1.
•She made slow but steady progress.
regular • • constant • • consistent • • unchanging • • even • |usually approving stable • |sometimes disapproving, especially business static •
a/an steady/constant/even/stable temperature
a steady/constant/consistent trend/rate
(a) steady/regular/stable relationship/employment
Steady or regular? Both these words can be used to describe a job, work, employment, an income, the supply of sth or a relationship that continues for a long time and that you can rely on. A regular job is sometimes used in contrast to another job that is not regular:
•I decided to give up the freelance work and concentrate on my regular job.
✗ I decided to concentrate on my steady job.:
•If you want money, get a regular/steady job.
2.
•The work requires a steady hand.
stable • • firm • • secure •
Opp: unsteady
a steady/stable/firm/secure foundation
Example Bank:
•Hold the ladder steady!
•Inflation seems to be holding steady.
•Share prices have held steady over the last few days.
•She opened the letter with hands that were not quite steady.
•She's got a steady boyfriend.
•Such fine work requires a good eye and a steady hand.
•The last decade has seen a steady decline in the number of birds nesting here.
•The new position would provide him with a steady income.
•They wanted me to get a steady job.
•We've had five years of steady economic growth.
Idioms: ↑go steady ▪ ↑steady as a rock
Derived Words: ↑steadily ▪ ↑steadiness
verb (stead·ies, steady·ing, stead·ied, stead·ied)
1. transitive, intransitive ~ (yourself/sb/sth) to stop yourself/sb/sth from moving, shaking or falling; to stop moving, shaking or falling
•She steadied herself against the wall.
•The lift rocked slightly, steadied, and the doors opened.
2. intransitive to stop changing and become regular again
•Her heartbeat steadied.
•~ against sth The pound steadied against the dollar.
3. transitive ~ sb/sth to make sb/sth calm
•He took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘unwavering, without deviation’): from ↑stead + ↑-y. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.
Example Bank:
•The elevator rocked slightly, steadied, and the doors opened.
adverb
in a way that is steady and does not change or shake
•In trading today the dollar held steady against the yen.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘unwavering, without deviation’): from ↑stead + ↑-y. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.
exclamation (informal)
1. ~ on (becoming old-fashioned)used to tell sb to be careful about what they are saying or doing, for example because it is extreme or not appropriate
•Steady on! You can't say things like that about somebody you've never met.
2. used to tell sb to be careful
•Steady! Don't fall off.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘unwavering, without deviation’): from ↑stead + ↑-y. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.
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