fix
Americanverb (used with object)
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fixes,
present (3rd person singular)
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fixed,
past participle, past
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fixt,
past participle, past (Archaic)
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fixing
present participle
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to repair; mend.
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to put in order or in good condition; adjust or arrange.
She fixed her hair in a bun.
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to make fast, firm, or stable.
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to place definitely and more or less permanently.
to fix a circus poster to a wall.
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to settle definitely; determine.
to fix a price.
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to direct (the eyes, the attention, etc.) steadily.
His eyes were fixed on the distant ship.
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to attract and hold (the eye, the attention, etc.).
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to make set or rigid.
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to put into permanent form.
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to put or place (responsibility, blame, etc.) on a person.
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to assign or refer to a definite place, time, etc.
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to provide or supply with (something needed or wanted).
How are you fixed for money?
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Informal. to arrange or influence the outcome or action of, especially privately or dishonestly.
to fix a jury; to fix a game.
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to get (a meal); prepare (food).
What time shall I fix supper?
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Informal. to put in a condition or position to make no further trouble.
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Informal. to get even with; get revenge upon.
I'll fix him!
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Informal. to castrate or spay (an animal, especially a pet).
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Chemistry.
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to make stable in consistency or condition; reduce from fluidity or volatility to a more stable state.
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to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a useful compound, as a nitrate fertilizer.
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Photography. to render (an image) permanent by removing light-sensitive silver halides.
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Microscopy. to kill, make rigid, and preserve for microscopic study.
verb (used without object)
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fixes,
present (3rd person singular)
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fixed,
past participle, past
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fixt,
past participle, past (Archaic)
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fixing
present participle
-
to become fixed.
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to become set; assume a rigid or solid form.
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to become stable or permanent.
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to settle down.
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Slang. to inject oneself with a narcotic.
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Chiefly Southern U.S. to prepare; plan (usually followed by an infinitive).
I was just fixing to call you. We're fixing to go to Colorado this summer.
noun
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fixes
plural
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Informal. a position from which it is difficult to escape; predicament.
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Informal. a repair, adjustment, or solution, usually of an immediate nature.
Can you think of a fix for the problem?
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Navigation.
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a charted position of a vessel or aircraft, determined by two or more bearings taken on landmarks, heavenly bod-ies, etc.
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the determining of the position of a ship, plane, etc., by mathematical, electronic, or other means.
The navigator took a fix on the sun and steered the ship due north.
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a clear determination.
Can you get a fix on what he really means?
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Slang.
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an injection of heroin or other narcotic.
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the narcotic or amount of narcotic injected.
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a compulsively sought dose or infusion of something.
to need one's daily fix of soap operas on TV.
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Slang.
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an underhand or illegal arrangement, especially one secured through bribery or influence.
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a contest, situation, etc., whose outcome is prearranged dishonestly.
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verb phrase
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fix on / upon to decide on; determine.
We won't be able to fix on a location for the banquet until we know the number of guests.
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fix up
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to arrange for.
to fix up a date.
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to provide with; furnish.
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to repair; renew.
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to smooth over; solve.
They weren't able to fix up their differences.
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idioms
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fix one's wagon, to exact retribution for an offense; treat someone vengefully.
I'll dock his pay and that will fix his wagon.
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in a fix, pregnant.
verb
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(also intr) to make or become firm, stable, or secure
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to attach or place permanently
fix the mirror to the wall
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(often foll by up) to settle definitely; decide
let us fix a date
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to hold or direct (eyes, attention, etc) steadily
he fixed his gaze on the woman
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to call to attention or rivet
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to make rigid
to fix one's jaw
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to place or ascribe
to fix the blame on someone
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to mend or repair
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informal to provide with
how are you fixed for supplies?
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informal to influence (a person, outcome of a contest, etc) unfairly, as by bribery
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slang to take revenge on; get even with, esp by killing
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informal to give (someone) his just deserts
that'll fix him
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informal to arrange or put in order
to fix one's hair
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informal to prepare
to fix a meal
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dialect to spay or castrate (an animal)
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dialect to prepare oneself
I'm fixing to go out
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photog to treat (a film, plate, or paper) with fixer to make permanent the image rendered visible by developer
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cytology to kill, preserve, and harden (tissue, cells, etc) for subsequent microscopic study
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to convert (atmospheric nitrogen) into nitrogen compounds, as in the manufacture of fertilizers or the action of bacteria in the soil
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to convert (carbon dioxide) into organic compounds, esp carbohydrates, as occurs in photosynthesis in plants and some microorganisms
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to reduce (a substance) to a solid or condensed state or a less volatile state
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slang (intr) to inject a drug
noun
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informal a predicament; dilemma
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the ascertaining of the navigational position, as of a ship, by radar, observation, etc
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slang an intravenous injection of a drug, esp heroin
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informal an act or instance of bribery
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To convert inorganic carbon or nitrogen into stable, organic compounds that can be assimilated into organisms. Photosynthetic organisms such as green plants fix carbon in carbohydrates as food; certain bacteria fix nitrogen as ammonia that can be absorbed directly or through nitrification by plant roots.
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See more at carbon fixation nitrogen fixation
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To convert a substance, especially a gas, into solid or liquid form by chemical reactions.
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To kill and preserve a tissue specimen rapidly to retain as nearly as possible the characteristics it had in the living body.
Usage
Fix meaning “to repair” appears to have been used first in America, but it is long established and has been used in England since the early 19th century: The engineer quickly fixed the faulty valve. The verb use is fully standard in all varieties of speech and writing, and objections to it on the grounds of style merely reflect personal prejudice, not the practice of educated speakers and writers. The noun fix meaning “repair, adjustment” is informal. Fix ( to ) meaning “to prepare, plan (to)” is another Americanism: We're fixing to go to town. It once occurred in all the eastern coastal states, but it is now chiefly an informal spoken form in the South Midland and South.
Synonym Usage
Fix, establish imply making firm or permanent. To fix is to fasten in position securely or to make more or less permanent against change, especially something already existing: to fix a bayonet on a gun; fix a principle in one's mind. To establish is to make firm or permanent something (usually newly) originated, created, or ordained: to establish a business, a claim to property.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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fixsimple
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fixessimple
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have fixedperfect
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have fixtperfect
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has fixedperfect
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has fixtperfect
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am fixingprogressive
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are fixingprogressive
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is fixingprogressive
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have been fixingperfect progressive
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has been fixingperfect progressive
Past
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fixedsimple
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fixtsimple
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had fixedperfect
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had fixtperfect
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was fixingprogressive
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were fixingprogressive
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had been fixingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fix
First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English fixen, from Middle French fixer or Medieval Latin fixāre, derivative of Latin fixus “fixed,” past participle of fīgere “to fasten”
Vocabulary lists containing fix
"Ain't I a Woman?"
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Unit 3, Small-Group Learning
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Selection Vocabulary 4, Unit 4
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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.
See Examples For:
If you’re on a monthly draw and you give to charity, that’s the first thing to fix.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
The fix lay right under Disney’s nose: buy Pixar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
"If a true friend like Huckabee has to bang on the table, then all of us need to stop and ask how it happened that we lost our way, and fix it immediately," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that the FAA and Marine One crews are working to fix telecommunications issues after last week’s safety incident.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Don’t fly away. I’ll fix you peanut butter and jelly.”
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
For Leon Berkers, whose restaurant boat has been stuck in the mud for more than a month, adaptation has so far meant improvising fixes to keep "pots and pans from flying around."
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Lurie has advocated for fixes to the ingredient rules and he said the new proposed rule was in effect “voluntary.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
He said mildew is a common regional issue his team fixes as necessary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
As part of “By the People,” Slate’s series exploring how Americans can reclaim the Constitution and the law, Alexis Romero outlined three possible fixes for an out-of-control Supreme Court.
From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2026
“They can’t make that month’s cheap rent? I give that, too. Something breaks, the super fixes it, quick. Complaints? Complaints, thass w'here you come in. Complaints would go t’ you.”
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
Economists had projected fixed asset investment to have dropped 6.0% for the seven-month period.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Over many decades, homeowners benefited handsomely from leverage, because they were able to borrow cheaply for 30 years at low fixed interest rates.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
A full inquest was fixed to be heard on 19 January.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Here’s how CEO Salim Ramji plans to bring Vanguard’s low-cost, high-return formula to cash savings, financial advice, and active fixed income.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Willem fixed his sober, deep-set eyes on mine.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
The Muscle of the Stapes or Stirrup is also hid in a Bony Tube, almost at the bottom of the Drum, and fixt in the Head of the Stapes.
From The Compleat Surgeon or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method. by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc
Two young persons, neighbors of opulent families, had been long betrothed, and the marriage-day had been fixt for Sunday, the fatal 4th of November.
From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. X (of X) - America - II, Index by Henry Cabot Lodge
When it stormed before my bread was baked, I fixt a few boards over the fire, and sat under them to watch my loaf, and passed some pleasant hours in that way.
From The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to Prose, Vol. X (of X) - America - II, Index by Henry Cabot Lodge
Therefore once dead in vain shall I transmit My shadow to gazing Posteritie; Cast farre behind me I shall never see’t, On Heavens fair Sunne having fast fixt mine eye.
From Democritus Platonissans by Henry More
But all in vain, no counsel will prevail; H'as fixt himself, there's no removing, Jaques, 'Twill prove but breath and labor spent in vain, I'll to my horse, farewell.
From Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (8 of 10) The Womans Prize; The Island Princess; The Noble Gentleman; The Coronation; The Coxcomb by Francis Beaumont
Driscoll, who is also a member of Patriotic Millionaires, an advocacy group of high-net-worth individuals focused on the country’s economy, said fixing Social Security is an obligation.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
A woman has criticised Anglian Water for imposing a hosepipe ban while not fixing a water leak that she had reported "weeks ago".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Yet in a bizarre case of fixing something that does not need fixing, the program became the one CBS property executives chose to radically remake.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
“As a business gets bigger, there are unique challenges that pop up, so I’m not naive to those things and spend a lot of time just making sure we’re fixing things,” said LaFontaine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
“Good to hear,” Jack said, fixing his eyes on the horizon, not really caring about her rolling coasts or whatever.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Definitions 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.
