Firm Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Published on March 24, 2024
Firm refers to being strong and steady in one's convictions or physical state. e.g., She held on to the railing with a firm grip during the storm.
Table of Contents
Firm Definitions
Not soft or yielding when pressed; solid.
The mattress was too firm for my liking.
Securely fixed in place.
The posts must be firm in the ground to support the fence.
Steadfast, reliable, and unlikely to change.
They share a firm friendship that has lasted for years.
(Business) A commercial business or partnership.
She works for a law firm in the city.
Resolute and strong in one's decisions or directions.
The teacher was firm with the deadlines for assignments.
(Of an offer or agreement) Final and not subject to change.
The seller made a firm offer that was quickly accepted.
(Fitness) Having muscles that are well-toned and not flabby.
Regular exercise helps keep your body firm and healthy.
Strong and unyielding in purpose or belief.
His firm refusal to compromise surprised everyone.
Indicating or possessing determination and seriousness.
She had a firm tone when giving instructions.
(Of prices, markets, etc.) Stable and not decreasing.
Despite economic fluctuations, the housing market remained firm.
Resistant to externally applied pressure.
Marked by or indicating the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue
Firm muscles.
Securely fixed in place
Despite being hit by the car, the post was still firm.
Indicating or possessed of determination or resolution
A firm voice.
Constant; steadfast
A firm ally.
Not subject to change; fixed and definite
A firm bargain.
A firm offer.
Unfluctuating; steady
Stock prices are still firm.
Strong and sure
A firm grasp.
To make or become firm. Often used with up.
Without wavering; resolutely
Stand firm.
A business enterprise.
An unincorporated business, particularly a partnership.
The name or designation under which a company transacts business.
A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
A business enterprise, however organized.
(slang) A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.
Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)
It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
Fixed (in opinion).
A firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent
Firm favourites
Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.
He wanted to stay overnight, but I was firm with him and said he had to leave today.
Durable, rigid (material state)
Firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)
Firmly, steadily
(transitive) To make firm or strong; fix securely.
(transitive) To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.
(intransitive) To become firm; stabilise.
(intransitive) To improve after decline.
To shorten (of betting odds).
To select (a higher education institution) as one's preferred choice, so as to enrol automatically if one's grades match the conditional offer.
Fixed; hence, closely compressed; compact; substantial; hard; solid; - applied to the matter of bodies; as, firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood.
Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or will; strong; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent.
Under spread ensigns, moving nigh, in slowBut firm battalion.
By one man's firm obediency fully tried.
Solid; - opposed to fluid; as, firm land.
Indicating firmness; as, a firm tread; a firm countenance.
The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house; as, the firm of Hope & Co.
To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish.
And Jove has firmed it with an awful nod.
To fix or direct with firmness.
He on his card and compass firms his eye.
Members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments;
He worked for a brokerage house
Become taut or tauter;
Yur muscles will firm when you exercise regularly
The rope tautened
Make taut or tauter;
Tauten a rope
Marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable;
Firm convictions
A firm mouth
Steadfast resolve
A man of unbendable perseverence
Unwavering loyalty
Not soft or yielding to pressure;
A firm mattress
The snow was firm underfoot
Solid ground
Strong and sure;
A firm grasp
Gave a strong pull on the rope
Not subject to revision or change;
A firm contract
A firm offer
(of especially a person's physical features) not shaking or trembling;
His voice was firm and confident
A firm step
Not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall;
Stocks are still firm
Securely established;
An established reputation
Holds a firm position as the country's leading poet
Marked by the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue;
Firm muscles
Pleasingly firm and fresh and making a crunching noise when chewed;
Crisp carrot and celery sticks
A firm apple
Crunchy lettuce
Securely fixed in place;
The post was still firm after being hit by the car
Unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause;
A firm ally
Loyal supporters
The true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe
Fast friends
With resolute determination;
We firmly believed it
You must stand firm
Firm Snonyms
Sturdy
Strong and durable.
The sturdy table can support a lot of weight.
Solid
Of definite shape and volume; not liquid or gas.
The sculpture was made from a solid block of stone.
Rigid
Unable to bend or be forced out of shape.
The metal rod is too rigid to be bent by hand.
Hard
Firm and rigid; not easily penetrated.
The frozen ground was too hard to dig.
Steadfast
Loyally firm and unwavering.
Her steadfast commitment to the cause is admirable.
Stable
Not likely to give way or overturn.
The ladder is stable enough to climb safely.
Unyielding
Not giving way to pressure; hard or solid.
The unyielding rock face makes climbing difficult.
Strong
Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks.
She is strong enough to lift the heavy boxes.
Tight
Fixed, fastened, or closed firmly; hard to move or open.
Make sure the lid is tight to avoid spills.
Resolute
Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.
He was resolute in his decision to quit smoking.
Firm Idioms & Phrases
Firm up
To make something more definite or less likely to change.
We need to firm up the plans for the weekend by Friday.
Firm believer
Someone who strongly believes in a particular idea or principle.
He's a firm believer in the importance of daily exercise.
Firm hand
Control or governance with strength and determination.
The new manager leads with a firm hand, ensuring efficiency.
Stand firm
To refuse to change one's decision, opinion, or stance.
Despite the opposition, the committee stood firm on their decision.
Hold firm
To maintain one's position or opinion in the face of opposition.
She held firm to her beliefs, despite criticism.
Firm offer
An offer that is final and not subject to negotiation.
The buyer made a firm offer for the house.
Firm foundation
A strong and solid base on which something is built.
Their relationship is built on a firm foundation of trust.
Firm commitment
A promise or dedication that is unlikely to be broken.
The organization made a firm commitment to reducing waste.
Firm handshake
A strong, confident handshake that conveys confidence.
He greeted me with a firm handshake.
Firm stance
A determined and steadfast position on an issue.
The politician took a firm stance against corruption.
Keep a firm grip
To maintain control or hold something securely.
Keep a firm grip on the rope while climbing.
On firm ground
In a situation that is secure and stable.
With the new contract, the company is now on firm ground.
Firm resolution
A strong determination to do or not do something.
He made a firm resolution to improve his grades.
Firm ground
A position that is strong, stable, and justifiable.
The lawyer argued his case from firm ground.
Firm as a rock
Extremely steady or unyielding.
Her faith was as firm as a rock.
Firm footing
A stable and secure position or condition.
The hikers found firm footing on the rocky path.
Firmly rooted
Established deeply and securely.
These traditions are firmly rooted in our community.
Firm boundaries
Clear and well-defined limits.
Setting firm boundaries is important in any healthy relationship.
Firm up one's plans
To finalize or make one's plans more certain.
Let's firm up our plans for the holiday trip.
Firmly believe
To have a strong and unwavering belief.
I firmly believe that hard work pays off.
Firm Example Sentences
The firm ground made it easy to set up the tent.
The teacher's voice was firm but kind.
He kept a firm hold on the leash as the dog pulled.
She has a firm understanding of the subject.
The company has a firm policy against late submissions.
The bridge is built on firm foundations.
The door was firm shut against the storm.
She maintained a firm stance on environmental issues.
The book was bound in firm leather.
His belief in justice is firm and unwavering.
They reached a firm agreement after hours of discussion.
She stood firm against the pressures to conform.
His advice gave me a firm direction in life.
The handshake was firm, indicating confidence.
The ground was too firm to dig with bare hands.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called firm?
Firm originates from the Latin word "firmus," meaning strong, steadfast, or enduring.
What is a stressed syllable in firm?
The entire word firm is stressed, as it is monosyllabic.
How do we divide firm into syllables?
Firm is not divided into syllables since it consists of only one syllable.
How many syllables are in firm?
Firm has one syllable.
How is firm used in a sentence?
The foundations of the house are firm and stable.
What is the verb form of firm?
The verb form of firm is "to firm" or "firming."
What is the pronunciation of firm?
Firm is pronounced as /fɜrm/.
What is the first form of firm?
The first form is "firm."
What part of speech is firm?
Firm can be an adjective, noun, or verb, depending on its use in a sentence.
What is the opposite of firm?
The opposite of firm (adjective) is "soft" or "flexible."
Is firm a noun or adjective?
Firm can be both a noun and an adjective.
Is firm an adverb?
No, firm is not traditionally used as an adverb.
Is the firm term a metaphor?
The term firm can be used metaphorically to describe concepts like resolve or strength.
Is the word firm Gerund?
No, firm is not a gerund; its gerund form would be "firming."
Which determiner is used with firm?
Determiners like "the," "a," or "an" can be used with firm depending on the context.
What is the root word of firm?
The root word of firm is "firmus" from Latin.
What is another term for firm?
Another term for firm (as an adjective) is "solid."
Is firm a collective noun?
When referring to a business, firm can be considered a collective noun.
Is the word firm imperative?
Firm can be used in an imperative mood when giving commands, e.g., "Firm up your plans."
What is the singular form of firm?
The singular form is "firm."
Is firm a vowel or consonant?
The word firm starts with a consonant.
What is the plural form of firm?
The plural form can be "firms" when referring to multiple businesses or partnerships.
Which conjunction is used with firm?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with firm based on sentence structure.
Which article is used with firm?
The definite article "the" or the indefinite articles "a" or "an" can be used with firm depending on specificity.
Is firm an abstract noun?
No, firm is not an abstract noun; it's a concrete adjective, noun, or verb.
Is firm a negative or positive word?
Firm is neutral; it can be positive or negative depending on the context.
Is firm a countable noun?
Yes, when used as a noun referring to a business, firm is countable.
Is the word “firm” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Firm can serve as a direct object when it is the thing being acted upon in a sentence.
Which vowel is used before firm?
The vowel used before firm depends on the preceding word; there's no specific rule.
Which preposition is used with firm?
Prepositions like "on," "in," or "with" can be used with firm depending on the context.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
