Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

steady

/ˈstɪdi/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.31 in modern English

Syllables
steady
IPA
/ˈstɪdi/
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Smooth and not bumpy or with obstructions.

adj

Regular and even.

adj

Slow.

adj

With whom one is going steady.

Dated; Informal

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“steady”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig. Compare also Old English ġestedegian (“to bring to a standstill”) and Dutch steeds (“more and more”). Adjective sense 8 is a semantic loan from Singapore Hokkien 在 (chāi, “confident, skilled”, literally “steady”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈstɪdi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce steady?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈstɪdi/.
What does steady mean?
Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm.
Where does steady come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce steady

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “steady”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈstɪdi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “steady”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “steady” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.