A steady increase refers to a gradual and consistent rise in something over an extended period of time. It means that there is a constant, unbroken trend of growth or accumulation without any significant fluctuations or interruptions. The term can be used to describe various phenomena such as the expansion of a company's revenue, the escalation in global temperatures, or the mounting debt burden on an economy. In all cases, steady increase implies that there is a consistent and sustained upward movement without any major setbacks or reversals.