What Does "steadily" Mean?
- What it expresses: It is an adverb of manner and degree. It describes an action that happens at a consistent, regular pace without sudden changes or interruptions. It often implies gradual but persistent progress or movement.
- What part of the sentence it typically modifies: It primarily modifies verbs (e.g., growing steadily) and participles/adjectives (e.g., steadily rising prices).
- Register: Neutral to formal. While common in everyday speech, it is a staple of journalism, academic writing, and economic reporting due to its precision in describing trends.
How to Use It
- Typical sentence positions: Its most natural and frequent position is mid-position (between the subject and main verb or after the first auxiliary verb). It can also appear in the final position for emphasis. Initial position is rare and usually reserved for literary effect.
- What it modifies and how it changes the meaning: When "steadily" modifies a verb like improve or fall, it removes any suggestion of volatility. It tells the reader that the change is reliable and constant.
- Grammatical flexibility: It can be used with negation (not moving steadily) and in questions (Is it rising steadily?). It is frequently used with present participles to form compound modifiers (e.g., a steadily improving situation).
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using it to describe a single, instantaneous action (e.g., "He steadily dropped the glass") is incorrect, as the adverb requires a process with duration.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from steadily on Ludwig.guru.
"Above all, you have to get consumers to accept significantly higher, and steadily rising, prices." — The Economist
"Amid a steadily improving economy that has seen the highest pace of job creation in years, Republican attacks on Obama's handling of the country's finances were rarer than during the 2012 election campaign..." — The Guardian
"By this time, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had risen steadily through the group to become a trusted aide to its leader..." — The Guardian
"Tiens first began tapping into the Ugandan market in 2003 and it has grown steadily ever since." — The Guardian
"The company has been steadily losing money and recently missed deadlines for interest repayments." — The Guardian
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/steadily
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| gradually |
Very similar; emphasizes the slow nature of the change over time. |
| consistently |
Emphasizes the lack of deviation or variation in the pattern. |
| continuously |
Suggests an action that never stops or pauses. |
| bit by bit |
More informal; describes progress made in small increments. |
| uniformly |
Formal; suggests that the change is happening at the exact same rate everywhere. |
| progressively |
Often used when the rate of change is increasing or building upon itself. |
Common Mistakes
- Confusion with the adjective: Learners often confuse it with steady and fail to use the adverbial suffix when modifying a verb. You should say "The rain fell steadily," not "The rain fell steady."
- Placement with auxiliary verbs: Placing it before the auxiliary verb (e.g., "It steadily has improved") often sounds clunky compared to the more natural mid-position ("It has steadily improved").
- Redundancy: Using it with verbs that already imply a constant rate can sometimes be redundant, though it is usually accepted for emphasis.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| steadily |
Modifies manner/degree of change |
Neutral to Formal |
Mid-position (after auxiliary) |
FAQs
Where in a sentence should steadily appear?
The adverb steadily most naturally occupies the mid-position, appearing after an auxiliary verb or before the main verb. While it can be placed at the end of a clause for emphasis, placing it at the very beginning of a sentence is generally avoided in standard prose.
What is the difference between steadily and gradually?
While both describe slow change, steadily emphasizes the consistency and lack of interruption in the movement. Gradually focuses more on the incremental nature of the process, suggesting that it happens in small stages over a long period.
Can I use the word steady to describe how a verb is performed?
No, you must use the adverbial suffix "-ly" when modifying a verb or an adjective. Learners often mistakenly use the adjective "steady" when they should use steadily, such as saying "prices rose steady" instead of the correct "prices rose steadily."