firmly
Americanadverb
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in a manner or position that is secure and solid.
Make sure the grab bar is installed properly and remains firmly attached to the wall.
The well-being of humankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.
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in a calm, assertive, or authoritative voice or manner.
As a teacher I learned how to speak firmly and loudly without being harsh.
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in a resolute or unwavering manner.
When people firmly believe something essential to their worldview, they construct supporting beliefs in order to avoid having that worldview collapse.
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in a fixed way; steadily.
To keep your eyes firmly focused on the road, make sure you have a pair of good sunglasses handy in case the sun becomes dazzling.
Etymology
Origin of firmly
Explanation
When you do something firmly, you do it with strength or in a secure way, like when you shut a door firmly behind you so your cat can't get out. You might grab a tennis racket firmly in your hands, gripping it hard, and then firmly smack the ball across the net. You can also act in a firm, or determined way: "I told her firmly that she couldn't borrow my clothes without asking next time." The Latin root of both firmly and firm is firmus, "strong, steadfast, trusty, or stable."
Vocabulary lists containing firmly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Its genetic instructions included a secretion signal that directs the enzyme outside the cell, along with a lipid anchor that holds it firmly to the cell membrane.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
With a strategy update slated for December, management’s priority will remain firmly focused on deleveraging, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
With that strange mental image firmly embedded in my brain, it’s time for me to dip out.
From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026
Beverley Griffiths, senior lecturer in security and resilience at Bucks New University told PA that this was "a clear sign that major brands are firmly in the crosshairs of cyber attackers".
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
As for me, I set my heart every day more firmly on September 1.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
