(steadier, steadiest, steadies, ~ing, steadied)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ situation continues or develops gradually without any interruptions and is not likely to change quickly.
Despite the ~ progress of building work, the campaign against it is still going strong...
The improvement in standards has been ~ and persistent, but has attracted little comment from educationalists...
A student doesn’t have a ~ income.
ADJ
steadily
Relax as much as possible and keep breathing steadily...
ADV: ADV with v
2.
If an object is ~, it is firm and does not shake or move about.
Get as close to the subject as you can and hold the camera ~...
? un~
ADJ
3.
If you look at someone or speak to them in a ~ way, you look or speak in a calm, controlled way.
‘Well, go on,’ said Camilla, her voice fairly ~...
ADJ
steadily
He moved back a little and stared steadily at Elaine.
ADV: ADV after v
4.
If you describe a person as ~, you mean that they are sensible and reliable.
He was firm and ~ unlike other men she knew.
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
5.
If you ~ something or if it steadies, it stops shaking or moving about.
Two men were on the bridge-deck, ~ing a ladder...
Lovelock eased back the throttles and the ship steadied.
VERB: V n, V
6.
If you ~ yourself, you control your voice or expression, so that people will think that you are calm and not nervous.
Somehow she steadied herself and murmured, ‘Have you got a cigarette?’...
She breathed in to ~ her voice.
= compose
VERB: V pron-refl, V n
7.
You say ‘~ on’ to someone to tell them to calm down or to be careful about what they are saying.
‘What if there’s another murder?’—‘Steady on!’...
EXCLAM