steady

Everyday

1. Firm and not shaking or wobbling, like a steady ladder or a steady hand. tree →
2. Happening at an even, regular rate without sudden changes, like steady rain or a steady speed. tree →
3. Calm and sensible, someone you can rely on. tree →
4. As a verb, to steady something is to hold it so it stops moving or wobbling. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science, "steady" means the same rate all the time: a car moving at a steady 50 km/h covers the same distance every hour, so you can multiply speed by time. In safety, a ladder or chair must be steady before you climb, and you steady yourself by holding a rail. In stories, a steady voice shows calm courage. Phrases: "steady on!", "slow and steady wins the race", "hold it steady", "ready, steady, go!" (British start of a race), "a steady job".

Examples

• Hold the ladder steady while Dad climbs up. tree →
• It rained steadily all afternoon. tree →
• The train moved at a steady speed of 80 kilometres an hour. tree →
• Her hand was steady as she poured the water. tree →
• Ready, steady, go! tree →
• He grabbed the rail to steady himself on the bus. tree →
• The plant grew at a steady rate of 2 cm a week. tree →
• Slow and steady wins the race, said the tortoise. tree →
• Slow and steady wins the race. tree →

Note

Spelling: steadier, steadiest, steadied (y changes to i), but steadying keeps the y. "Steady" and "stable" are close in meaning. "Ready, steady, go" is British; Americans often say "ready, set, go". In maths problems, a steady rate means the amount changes by the same number each time, so you can use multiplication (steady 3 litres a minute for 5 minutes = 15 litres).

In Jewish tradition

In maths and science, "steady" means the same rate all the time: a car moving at a steady 50 km/h covers the same distance every hour, so you can multiply speed by time. In safety, a ladder or chair must be steady before you climb, and you steady yourself by holding a rail. In stories, a steady voice shows calm courage. Phrases: "steady on!", "slow and steady wins the race", "hold it steady", "ready, steady, go!" (British start of a race), "a steady job".

Note

Spelling: steadier, steadiest, steadied (y changes to i), but steadying keeps the y. "Steady" and "stable" are close in meaning. "Ready, steady, go" is British; Americans often say "ready, set, go". In maths problems, a steady rate means the amount changes by the same number each time, so you can use multiplication (steady 3 litres a minute for 5 minutes = 15 litres).