Cool MateRegularly vs Steadily
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Regularly
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Steadily
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Regularly
| Regularly | Steadily | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreɡjələli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈreɡjələrli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstedəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstedəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | happening often or at the same time each week or month | Doing something in a consistent and regular way. |
| Example | She works out regularly to maintain her fitness. | The company's exports have been increasing steadily. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | exercise regularly, meet regularly, check emails regularly | grow steadily, progress steadily, increase steadily, work steadily |
| Antonyms | irregularly, occasionally | sporadically, intermittently, irregularly |
| Common mistakes | Using 'regular' instead of 'regularly' incorrectly in sentences., Confusing with 'regularity', which refers to the quality of being regular., Forgetting to place it appropriately in the sentence. | Confusing it with 'steady', which is an adjective., Using it where an adverb isn't needed, like 'He is steadily'., Mixing it up with 'steadfastly', which implies strong commitment. |
| Usage notes | Use 'regularly' to describe activities that happen frequently, like exercise or meetings. It's suitable for writing and conversation but not usually used in very casual slang. Avoid using 'regularly' in contexts of irregular or one-time events. | Use 'steadily' when describing actions that continue over time without interruption. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English but is less suitable for very casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Regularly vs Steadily
What's the difference between Regularly and Steadily?
Regularly: happening often or at the same time each week or month Steadily: Doing something in a consistent and regular way.
Which is more common: Regularly and Steadily?
Regularly is the most common in everyday English.
Are Regularly and Steadily the same CEFR level?
Regularly: B1, Steadily: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Regularly and Steadily interchangeably?
Not always. Regularly and Steadily are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.