steady
make steady
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,979 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 9,092 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- make steady also: calm, becalm steady yourself
- support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace also: brace, stabilize, stabilise brace your elbows while working on the potter's wheel
adjective
- not subject to change or variation especially in behavior a steady beata steady job
- not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall also: firm, unfluctuating stocks are still firm
- securely in position; not shaky held the ladder steady
- marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable also: firm, steadfast, stiff, unbendable, unfaltering, unshakable firm convictionsa firm mouth
- relating to a person who does something regularly also: regular a regular customera steady drinker
- not easily excited or upset steady nerves
steady in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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He managed to lower and steady his voice.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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Christian gathered herself up; her face grew pale again, and her voice steady.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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He caught hold of Kat's rod and pulled hard and called out, "Steady there, steady!"
The Dutch Twins · Lucy Fitch Perkins · Chapter 1
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His hand was steady, but the attitude was an excuse for not making an immediate reply.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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Its steady stream had broken up into rapids, and I was being whirled away on them.
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1