steadily

[sted-i-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that moves constantly and at an even pace or in the same direction.

   My dedication and commitment to teaching are proven by my steadily increasing student evaluation scores.

   Despite numerous legislative attempts to constrain spending over the past 40 years, the deficit problem has marched steadily on.

2. in a continuous, uniform way.

   It rained steadily all day yesterday and by evening the river was almost overflowing.

3. in a calm, fixed, or unwavering way.

   He just stood there, holding his ground and gazing steadily at her, into those dark eyes.

4. in a firm, stable way.

   Binoculars with larger magnification tend to be overly bulky and difficult to hold steadily.

5. in a determined, persevering, or resolute way.

   She told him, “Seek peace of mind and hold steadily to your faith.”

Other Word Forms

• oversteadily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of steadily¹

steady ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The number of jobs created each month has been slowing steadily since the boom that followed the reopening from the pandemic.

From BBC

The judges also criticized the court for not addressing threats of violence against judges, which have been steadily increasing.

From Salon

A new study says cancer death rates have steadily declined among Black people, but they remain higher than in other racial and ethnic groups.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, private rents in Scotland have been steadily rising over the last decade.

From BBC

Mass shootings have risen steadily in the U.S. for years, and so has gun ownership.

From Salon

Related Words

• regularly