Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an unsteady manner; without steadiness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In an unsteady manner; so as to shake, falter, or be inconsistent.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in an unsteady manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

unsteady +‎ -ly

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word unsteadily.

Examples

  • Pete looked like he hardly dared to believe it as he rose unsteadily from the cot.

    Hunger Moon: Chapter Sixteen amberfocus 2008

  • He said her name unsteadily, his voice thick and hot.

    Desire for Revenge Jordan, Penny 1997

  • "Here, two of you," he called unsteadily, "carry him to the engine-room."

    The Best Short Stories of 1917 and the Yearbook of the American Short Story Various 1915

  • John Halifax closed the hall-door and came in – unsteadily – staggering.

    John Halifax, Gentleman 1897

  • When Kirsteen rushed in unsteadily and threw herself down in the big wooden chair by the fireside, Marg'ret was threading a needle which was a work of patience.

    Kirsteen: The Story of a Scotch Family Seventy Years Ago Margaret 1891

  • I think we must drink more slowly while the music is playing, because without the music we got rather drunk rather quickly, and about the time of our third carafe -- honey ginger -- Velma and I were weaving unsteadily, which is pretty bad when you're sitting down.

    monogramming handkerchiefs baldanders 2001

  • More recently he has strayed, unsteadily, further afield with "The End of Medicine" (2006) — about how technology will change health care — and "Grumby" (2010), a novelized account of trying to start The Next Big Thing.

    Rules For Radicals 2011

  • Russell took a step toward our yard, and my father whipped around unsteadily.

    The Landscape of Pleasure 2010

  • Russell took a step toward our yard, and my father whipped around unsteadily.

    The Landscape of Pleasure 2010

  • She filled out a consent form and held the clipboard under his hand so Gene could scrawl his initials, which he was able to do unsteadily.

    Manifesting Michelangelo Joseph Pierce Farrell 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.