- (esp of a person's gaze) fixed in intensity or direction; steady
- unwavering or determined in purpose, loyalty, etc: steadfast resolve
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
stead•fast /ˈstɛdˌfæst/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- fixed in direction:He gave her his best steadfast gaze but she didn't even blink.
- firm in purpose, faith, loyalty, etc.:a steadfast friend.
stead•fast
(sted′fast′, -fäst′, -fəst),USA pronunciation adj.
stead′fast′ly, adv.
stead′fast′ness, n.
- fixed in direction;
steadily directed:a steadfast gaze. - firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person:a steadfast friend.
- unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
- firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.
- firmly fixed in place or position.
- Middle English stedefast, Old English stedefæst. See stead, fast1 bef. 1000
stead′fast′ness, n.
- 2. sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering. Steadfast, staunch, steady imply a sureness and continuousness that may be depended upon. Steadfast literally means fixed in place, but is chiefly used figuratively to indicate undeviating constancy or resolution:steadfast in one's faith.Staunch literally means watertight, as of a vessel, and therefore strong and firm; figuratively, it is used of loyal support that will endure strain:a staunch advocate of free trade.Literally, steady is applied to that which is relatively firm in position or continuous in movement or duration:a steady flow;
figuratively, it implies sober regularity or persistence:a steady worker. 4. 5. stable.
- 2. capricious, variable.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
steadfast, stedfast /ˈstɛdfəst; -ˌfɑːst/ adj
'steadfast' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
constant
- faithful
- fast
- immovable
- persist
- resolute
- stable
- stedfast
- well-affected
- abide
- abiding
- astatic
- astatine
- bloodhound
- certain
- changeless
- consistency
- continue
- dependable
- Eustace
- face
- firm
- game
- ground
- hold
- keep
- love
- perseverance
- persevering
- pertinacity
- proof
- rocky
- true
- uncompromising
- unflinching
- sad
- single-minded
- stabilize
- stalwart
- stand
- staunch
- steady
- steady-going