Steadily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Steadily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that is done in a consistent, gradual, or continuous manner over time. Example: "The company has been steadily increasing its market share over the past few years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Above all, you have to get consumers to accept significantly higher, and steadily rising, prices.

The Economist

Despite the extraordinary welling up of outrage around the Davis execution, prisoners have continued to be executed steadily over the past 12 months.

The Guardian

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, when the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, styled himself as the candidate to turn around America's economic fate.

The Guardian

By this time, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had risen steadily through the group to become a trusted aide to its leader, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, and his deputy, the Egyptian jihadist Abu Ayub al-Masri.

The Guardian

A lot of effort has been made to improve investigation and conviction has been steadily rising".

The Guardian

Grainge took over Universal in the UK when it was level pegging with EMI; one company invested steadily, the other didn't, and Universal launched the better acts, whether Amy Winehouse or Girls Aloud, or wooed them, from the Rolling Stones to Take That.

The Guardian

Lukashenko won a free and fair presidential election in 1994 after campaigning as a political outsider with an anti-corruption agenda, but once in charge he steadily consolidated his authority, changing the constitution to extend his term in power.

The Guardian

But after securing re-election in 1995 Akayev shifted his political course, steadily expanding his presidential powers.

The Guardian

Tiens first began tapping into the Ugandan market in 2003 and it has grown steadily ever since.

The Guardian

The political runes pointing to Labour's decline had been there to be read clearly since the referendum, as the SNP's membership steadily rose from 25,000 on 18 September to more than 100,000 by March.

The Guardian

Kaberuka concedes that some countries recovering from conflict will need international help, but says those steadily "graduating" thanks to remittances, foreign direct investment and access to capital markets – Ghana is a prime example – should become independent of aid in the not-too-distant future.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "steadily" to emphasize a consistent and gradual progression, especially when describing trends, improvements, or declines over time. For example, "The company's profits increased steadily over the past year."

Common error

Avoid using "steadily" when describing actions that are inherently sudden or abrupt. "Steadily" implies a gradual change, so it's inappropriate for describing actions that occur instantaneously.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "steadily" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed or a state is maintained. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a consistent and gradual process. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying verbs like 'improving', 'rising', and 'increasing'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "steadily" functions as an adverb that describes actions progressing gradually and consistently. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It is most frequently found in news and media, indicating trends or developments. While suitable for various contexts, it should be avoided when describing abrupt or instantaneous events. Alternatives include "gradually", "continuously", and "progressively". Its consistently high usage in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist underscores its reliability and appropriateness in formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Gradually

Emphasizes a slow, progressive change over time, similar to "steadily" but may imply an even slower pace.

Progressively

Focuses on the advancement or improvement aspect of the action, highlighting forward movement.

Continuously

Highlights the uninterrupted nature of the action or process, focusing on the lack of cessation.

Uninterruptedly

Stresses the unbroken nature of the action, similar to "continuously" but more emphatic.

Regularly

Suggests a consistent pattern or frequency of occurrence, rather than necessarily a smooth progression.

Constantly

Indicates a very high frequency or near-permanent state, possibly more frequent than "steadily".

Systematically

Highlights the methodical and organized nature of the action, adding a layer of deliberate planning.

Uniformly

Focuses on the consistent rate or manner of the action, emphasizing evenness and predictability.

Incessantly

Implies an almost annoying level of continuation, often used for negative or overwhelming situations.

Evenly

Implies a balanced and consistent distribution or progression, without significant variations.

FAQs

How can I use "Steadily" in a sentence?

"Steadily" is an adverb used to describe something that happens in a gradual, consistent manner. For example, "The rain fell "steadily" throughout the night" or "The economy is "steadily" improving".

What are some alternatives to using "Steadily"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "gradually", "continuously", or "progressively" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say something is "Steadily decreasing"?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. "Steadily decreasing" indicates a consistent and gradual decline. For example, "The number of smokers is "steadily" decreasing".

What's the difference between "Steadily" and "Constantly"?

"Steadily" implies a gradual and consistent pace, whereas "constantly" suggests something happens very frequently or without interruption. "Constantly" doesn't necessarily imply a change over time.