English Reference
Adjective

unsteady

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ənˈstɛdi/ UK /ʌnstˈɛdi/ un·steady UK spelling unsteadied, unsteadies, unsteadying

adj.not steady or firm. You use this to describe something that is likely to fall, move, or change suddenly.

adj.lacking steadiness or firmness; likely to waver or collapse. Often describes physical movement, emotional states, or unstable economic conditions.


SIMPLE

The old wooden floor feels very unsteady under my feet.

CONTEXTUAL

After drinking too much coffee, he felt unsteady and had to hold onto the wall to stay upright.

COMPLEX

The market remained unsteady throughout the afternoon as investors waited for the central bank to announce its final interest rate decision.

With Itauma barely able to stand, his legs unsteady and body swaying before slumping in the corner, his team threw in the towel.

BBC News· 29 Aug 2026

From un- + steady. Like steady, the word first appeared in English around 1530. The word is comparable to Old Frisian onstedich, Low German unstadig, etc.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated