unsteadyun‧stead‧y /ʌnˈstedi/ adjective 
He poured the coffee with a very unsteady hand. a baby’s first unsteady steps She was quite unsteady on her feet (=she might fall over).2showing that you are nervous: Her voice was unsteady. She took a deep unsteady breath.3an unsteady object is not balanced very well and could fall SYN unstable: an unsteady ladder4an unsteady situation, relationship etc could change or end at any time SYN fragile: an unsteady peace—unsteadily adverb—unsteadiness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- unsteady work
- an unsteady table
- For a few moments he was pale and unsteady but his colour gradually returned.
- He walked with the unsteady gait of an old man.
- I gave her an unsteady smile.
- My hand felt unsteady as I signed the paper.
- She'll be a little unsteady on her feet until the anaesthetic wears off.
- Boswell's unhappiness flowed from his own unsteady and volatile character.
- From afar, or even up close, the bridge is nothing more than a thin, unsteady shimmer of bamboo.
- He touched her almost tentatively, and his hands were unsteady again now.
- The rhythm of my sleep was odd, she explained, unsteady as the steps of an old man.
- The smile appears forced, unsteady, seems to quaver, though it is frozen in silver nitrate.
- The years following this unsteady inaugural were marked by a deepening mutual disdain.
- This is the easy part, proving difficult only for those with unsteady hands, poor vision or failure to comprehend.
- With his support and encouragement I took my first somewhat unsteady steps towards the production of a unit in financial accounting.
Longman Language Activatorunsteady and likely to fall
someone who is unsteady is unable to balance properly, for example because of illness, old age or too much alcohol: · For a few moments he was pale and unsteady but his colour gradually returned.· He walked with the unsteady gait of an old man.unsteady on your feet: · She'll be a little unsteady on her feet until the anaesthetic wears off.
something that is unstable is unsteady because it is too big for the thing supporting it or not properly fastened to something, so that it is dangerous: · That scaffolding looks unstable - get all the building workers off the site immediately.
not safe and likely to fall down - use this especially about things or people that are in high places: · The bottle was in a precarious position on the edge of the table.· Are you sure he's safe on that ladder? It looks very precarious up there.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She was quite unsteady on her feet (=she might fall over). Her voice was unsteady.
1shaking or moving in a way you cannot control: She was quite unsteady on her feet (=she might fall over). Her voice was unsteady. He poured the coffee with a very unsteady hand. a baby’s first unsteady steps She was quite unsteady on her feet (=she might fall over).2showing that you are nervous: Her voice was unsteady. She took a deep unsteady breath.3an unsteady object is not balanced very well and could fall SYN unstable: an unsteady ladder4an unsteady situation, relationship etc could change or end at any time SYN fragile: an unsteady peace—unsteadily adverb—unsteadiness noun [uncountable]