calm and steady share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. calm means “make calm or still”. steady means “not subject to change or variation especially in behavior”. calm is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɑm/
1.v.make calm or still
“quiet the dragons of worry and fear”
2.v.make steady
“steady yourself”
3.v.become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation
“After the fight both men need to cool off.”
/ˈstɛdi/
1.adj.not subject to change or variation especially in behavior
“a steady beat”
2.adj.not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall
“stocks are still firm”
3.adj.securely in position; not shaky
“held the ladder steady”
| calm | steady | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɑm/ | /ˈstɛdi/ |
| Said | kahm | STED-ee |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 4 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun, adjective | adjective, verb, noun, adverb |
| Senses | 8 | 10 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | calm down, quiet, tranquilize | none recorded |
Full entry for calm · Full entry for steady · More comparisons