Reading Theme:
At a Steady Pace: Meaning and Usage
Meaning 1：steadily (at a steady pace)
at a steady pace
/æt ə ˈstɛdi peɪs/
adv. phr.
moving or happening at a constant speed, without speeding up or slowing down.
steadily
➕
/ˈstɛdɪli/
adv. phr.
Performing an action or undergoing a process at a constant speed, without sudden changes in rate or intensity.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
'Steady' from Old English 'stæððig' meaning firm; 'pace' from Latin 'passus' step.
💡 Mnemonic
Picture a tortoise walking at a steady pace; slow but sure wins the race.
📖 Example
She is improving her French at a steady pace by learning new words and grammar every week.
She is improving her French steadily by learning new words and grammar every week.
🔗 Collocations
move at a steady pace – to travel or progress consistently without stops or fluctuations
work at a steady pace – to perform tasks with uniform speed over time
continue at a steady pace – to keep going without slowing down or speeding up
🔄 Synonyms
consistently (adv.) – in a way that does not vary in quality or rate over time
evenly (adv.) – in a regular and uniform manner, without sudden changes
at a constant rate (adv. phr.) – expressing the idea of unchanging speed or frequency
🚫 Antonyms
erratically (adv.) – in an unpredictable or irregular manner, with sudden changes of speed
sporadically (adv.) – occurring at irregular intervals, not continuously
fitfully (adv.) – in a way that is not steady; with frequent stops and starts
🌱 Derivatives
steady (adj.) – firmly fixed, constant, not changing
steadiness (n.) – the quality of being steady or stable
pace (n.) – speed or rate of movement, especially walking or running
📖 Cultural Story
This phrase is commonly used in self-improvement contexts, like language learning or fitness, emphasizing consistent effort over speed. It echoes the fable of the tortoise and the hare, popular in Western education.
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