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RELATED WORDS
tough, sturdy, solid, hard, unyielding, substantial, rigid, thick, stiff, tenacious, unshakable, steady, fast, tight, robust, strong, flat, unwavering, adamant, unflinching
Nearby words
Origin of firm
11300–50; < Latin firmus; replacing Middle English ferm < Middle French < Latin
SYNONYMS FOR firm
1 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.
2 fast, stable, immovable.
4 established, confirmed.
5 determined, immovable, staunch, reliable.
Related forms
firm·ly, adverbfirm·ness, nounDefinition for firm (2 of 2)
firm
2[ furm ]
/ fɜrm /
noun
a partnership or association for carrying on a business.
the name or title under which associated parties transact business: the firm of Smith & Jones.
Origin of firm
21565–75; < Spanish firma signature (hence, legal name of a partnership, etc.), noun derivative firmar to sign < Latin firmāre to strengthen, confirm, derivative of firmus firm1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for firm
British Dictionary definitions for firm (1 of 2)
firm
1/ (fɜːm) /
adjective
adverb
in a secure, stable, or unyielding mannerhe stood firm over his obligation to pay
verb
(sometimes foll by up) to make or become firm
(intr) Australian horse racing (of a horse) to shorten in odds
Derived Forms
firmly, adverbfirmness, nounWord Origin for firm
C14: from Latin firmus
British Dictionary definitions for firm (2 of 2)
firm
2/ (fɜːm) /
noun
a business partnership
any commercial enterprise
a team of doctors and their assistants
British slang
- a gang of criminals
- a gang of football hooligans
Word Origin for firm
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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