unsteady

unsteady — adjective

1. moving or shaking slightly so that a person or object may fall or lose its posit

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

moving or shaking slightly so that a person or object may fall or lose its position

Example

The old wooden ladder felt unsteady under Nicholas's weight.

collocation: feel unsteady / look unsteady / seem unsteady

After the long boat ride, Sayaka's legs were still unsteady on dry land.

Common collocations
  • feel unsteady
  • look unsteady
  • unsteady on one's feet
  • unsteady hands
  • unsteady steps
  • unsteady voice
Synonyms
  • wobbly

    more informal, often used for furniture or parts of the body

  • shaky

    emphasises trembling or vibration rather than sideways movement

  • unstable

    more serious tone, suggesting risk of complete collapse

Antonyms

Usage Note

Commonly pairs with body parts (legs, hands, voice, steps) or objects that can wobble (ladder, chair, table).

Common Mistakes

The table is unstable because one leg is shorter.
The table is unsteady because one leg is shorter.
'unstable' suggests a risk of collapse or breakdown; 'unsteady' is used for objects that sway or wobble.

2. not fixed or reliable in level, amount, or direction; likely to vary and therefo

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

not fixed or reliable in level, amount, or direction; likely to vary and therefore cause worry

Example

The country's unsteady economy worried many small business owners.

collocation: unsteady economy / unsteady market / unsteady growth

Talia found it difficult to plan a wedding during those unsteady months at work.

Common collocations
  • unsteady economy
  • unsteady market
  • unsteady relations
  • unsteady peace
  • unsteady growth
  • unsteady flow
Synonyms
  • unstable

    stronger sense of potential crisis or breakdown

  • uncertain

    focuses on the lack of predictability rather than variation itself

  • fluctuating

    suggests regular up-and-down changes

Antonyms
  • stable

    not likely to change or move

  • steady

    happening in a regular and predictable way

Usage Note

Used primarily of abstract nouns: economies, relationships, markets, political situations. Not used for physical objects.

Common Mistakes

The weather has been unsteady this week.
The weather has been changeable this week.
'unsteady' is not commonly used for weather; use 'changeable' or 'unsettled'.

3. not even or uniform in speed, rhythm, or pattern; moving in a way that lacks a c

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

not even or uniform in speed, rhythm, or pattern; moving in a way that lacks a consistent beat or tempo

Example

Chiara could hear the unsteady rhythm of her own heartbeat in the silent room.

collocation: unsteady rhythm / unsteady beat / unsteady pulse

The old car's engine made an unsteady sound, then stopped completely.

Common collocations
  • unsteady rhythm
  • unsteady beat
  • unsteady pulse
  • unsteady handwriting
  • unsteady sound
  • unsteady flow
Synonyms
  • irregular

    more general; can apply to timing, shape, or frequency

  • uneven

    emphasises lack of consistency in quality or level

  • faltering

    suggests loss of strength or momentum in a process

Antonyms
  • steady

    regular and even in speed, rhythm, or pattern

  • smooth

    without sudden changes or interruptions

Usage Note

Distinguish from Sense 1 (PHYSICAL INSTABILITY): this sense describes unevenness in a pattern or output, not a risk of falling. Distinguish from Sense 2 (LIKELY TO CHANGE): this sense is about irregular patterns in movement or operation, not about abstract uncertainty.

unsteady — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of firmness, but they differ in tone and typical use. 'Unsteady' (the headword) is the most neutral and general, covering physical movement and abstract change. 'Wobbly' is informal and specific to objects or body parts that move from side to side — a wobbly table or wobbly legs. 'Shaky' emphasises trembling or vibration rather than swaying, so it works well for voices, hands, or nervous movements. 'Unstable' carries a stronger and more serious tone, often suggesting a risk of complete collapse or breakdown — an unstable government or unstable building. For a physically unsteady chair, both 'wobbly' and 'unsteady' work, but 'unstable' would sound overly dramatic. Choose 'shaky' when you want to highlight a trembling motion, 'wobbly' for light informal contexts, and 'unstable' for serious structural or political situations.

wobblyshaky ↗unstable ↗unsteady ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • unsteady voice
  • unsteady hands
  • unsteady steps
  • unsteady gait
  • unsteady rhythm
  • unsteady economy
  • unsteady market

Adverbs

  • visibly unsteady
  • increasingly unsteady
  • slightly unsteady
  • dangerously unsteady

Phrases

  • unsteady on one's feet
  • unsteady as a result of
  • feel unsteady

Prepositions

  • unsteady on
  • unsteady with
  • unsteady from

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed in English by adding the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') to 'steady', which comes from Old English 'stæððig' (firm, stable). 'Steady' itself can be traced further back through Middle English 'stedi' to the Old English word 'stede' (place, position), giving the sense of something that stays firmly in its place.