firm

¹

[ furm ]

adjective

, firm·er, firm·est.

1. not soft or yielding when pressed; comparatively solid, hard, stiff, or rigid:

   firm ground;

   firm texture.

   Antonyms: soft, yielding

2. securely fixed in place.

   Synonyms: immovable, stable, fast

3. not shaking or trembling; steady:

   a firm voice.

4. not likely to change; fixed; settled; unalterable:

   a firm belief.

   Synonyms: confirmed

5. steadfast or unwavering, as persons or principles:

   firm friends.

   Synonyms: reliable, staunch, immovable, determined

6. indicating firmness or determination:

   a firm expression.

7. not fluctuating much or falling, as prices, values, etc.:

   The stock market was firm today.

verb (used with object)

1. to make firm; tighten or strengthen (sometimes followed by up ):

   to firm up one's hold on something.

2. to steady or fix (sometimes followed by up ):

   to firm up prices.

verb (used without object)

1. to become firm or fixed (sometimes followed by up ):

   Butter firms by churning.

2. (of prices, markets, etc.) to recover; become stronger, as after a decline (sometimes followed by up ):

   Stock prices firmed again today.

adverb

, firm·er, firm·est.

1. firmly:

   He stood firm.

firm

²

[ furm ]

noun

1. a partnership or association for carrying on a business.

   Synonyms: house, concern, business, company

2. the name or title under which associated parties transact business:

   the firm of Smith & Jones.

firm

¹

/ fɜːm /

noun

1. a business partnership
2. any commercial enterprise
3. a team of doctors and their assistants
4. slang.
   1. a gang of criminals
   2. a gang of football hooligans

firm

²

/ fɜːm /

adjective

1. not soft or yielding to a touch or pressure; rigid; solid
2. securely in position; stable or stationary
3. definitely established; decided; settled
4. enduring or steady; constant
5. having determination or strength; resolute
6. (of prices, markets, etc) tending to rise

adverb

1. in a secure, stable, or unyielding manner

   he stood firm over his obligation to pay

verb

1. sometimes foll by up to make or become firm
2. intr horse racing (of a horse) to shorten in odds

Derived Forms

• ˈfirmness, noun
• ˈfirmly, adverb

Other Words From

• firm·ly adverb
• firm·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of firm¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin firmus; replacing Middle English ferm(e), from Middle French ferm(e), from Latin

Origin of firm²

First recorded in 1565–75; from Spanish firma “signature” (hence, legal name of a partnership), noun derivative of firmar “to sign,” from Latin firmāre “to strengthen, confirm,” derivative of firmus firm ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of firm¹

C16 (in the sense: signature): from Spanish firma signature, title of a partnership or business concern, from firmar to sign, from Latin firmāre to confirm, from firmus firm

Origin of firm²

C14: from Latin firmus

Synonym Study

Firm, hard, solid, stiff are applied to substances that tend to retain their form unaltered in spite of pressure or force. Firm often implies that something has been brought from a yielding state to a fixed or elastic one: An increased amount of pectin makes jellies firm. Hard is applied to substances so resistant that it is difficult to make any impression upon their surface or to penetrate their interior: as hard as a stone. Solid is applied to substances that without external support retain their form and resist pressure: Water in the form of ice is solid. It sometimes denotes the opposite of hollow: a solid block of marble. Stiff implies rigidity that resists a bending force: as stiff as a poker.

Example Sentences

While missing that deadline was embarrassing, behind the scenes a more serious issue was playing out - Volocopter was urgently trying to raise fresh investment to keep the firm going.

From BBC

Hopes for the future appear to be pinned on doing a deal with the American financier Jason Mudrick, who is already a major creditor through his firm Mudrick Capital Management.

From BBC

One could read and watch a lifetime of reporting on this subject and still not have a firm handle on its nuances, contradictions, factions, facts and figures of the fight for, and against, Irish independence and reunification — a story going back centuries.

From Los Angeles Times

Some consumers have taken legal action against the firm, including a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in October.

From BBC

The firm said in October it had stopped working with the supplier of the onions and had removed them from its supply chain.

From BBC

Related Words

• association
• company
• conglomerate
• corporation
• enterprise
• organization