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# unsteady

adjective (unsteady, unsteadier, unsteadiest); adverb unsteadily

«unsteady» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Unsteady means not firm, likely to wobble, shake or fall: an unsteady ladder, unsteady legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#m1)
2. Unsteady means not regular or changing a lot: an unsteady voice, an unsteady heartbeat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#m2)

### In the lessons

In safety lessons: never climb on an unsteady chair or ladder; someone unsteady on their feet may need help. In stories, a frightened voice is unsteady. In science, an unsteady object is not stable. Phrases: unsteady on his feet, an unsteady hand, unsteady ladder.

### Examples

- The old ladder was unsteady, so Dad held it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x1)
- After the ride, I felt unsteady on my feet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x2)
- Her voice was unsteady because she was nervous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x3)
- The baby took a few unsteady steps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x4)
- Don't stand on that unsteady chair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x5)
- He walked unsteadily across the ice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x6)
- “I'll beg meat for you!” said he in an unsteady voice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/#x7)

### Note

«Un-» + «steady». Comparatives: unsteadier, unsteadiest, or «more unsteady». Similar: wobbly, shaky. Opposite: steady, stable.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unsteady» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unsteady/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unsteady» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unsteady.html) on Mova free.