fix

[ fiks ]

/ fɪks /

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See synonyms for: fix / fixed / fixing / fixable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), fixed or (Archaic) fixt

[fikst], /fɪkst/, fix·ing.

to repair; mend.

to put in order or in good condition; adjust or arrange: She fixed her hair in a bun.

to make fast, firm, or stable.

to place definitely and more or less permanently: to fix a circus poster to a wall.

to settle definitely; determine: to fix a price.

to direct (the eyes, the attention, etc.) steadily: His eyes were fixed on the distant ship.

to attract and hold (the eye, the attention, etc.).

to make set or rigid.

to put into permanent form.

to put or place (responsibility, blame, etc.) on a person.

to assign or refer to a definite place, time, etc.

to provide or supply with (something needed or wanted): How are you fixed for money?

Informal. to arrange or influence the outcome or action of, especially privately or dishonestly: to fix a jury; to fix a game.

to get (a meal); prepare (food): What time shall I fix supper?

Informal. to put in a condition or position to make no further trouble.

Informal. to get even with; get revenge upon: I'll fix him!

Informal. to castrate or spay (an animal, especially a pet).

Chemistry.

to make stable in consistency or condition; reduce from fluidity or volatility to a more stable state.
to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a useful compound, as a nitrate fertilizer.

Photography. to render (an image) permanent by removing light-sensitive silver halides.

Microscopy. to kill, make rigid, and preserve for microscopic study.

verb (used without object), fixed or fixt, fix·ing.

to become fixed.

to become set; assume a rigid or solid form.

to become stable or permanent.

to settle down.

Slang. to inject oneself with a narcotic.

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

Informal. a position from which it is difficult to escape; predicament.

Informal. a repair, adjustment, or solution, usually of an immediate nature: Can you think of a fix for the problem?

Navigation.

a charted position of a vessel or aircraft, determined by two or more bearings taken on landmarks, heavenly bod-ies, etc.
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.

a clear determination: Can you get a fix on what he really means?

Slang.

an injection of heroin or other narcotic.
the narcotic or amount of narcotic injected.
a compulsively sought dose or infusion of something: to need one's daily fix of soap operas on TV.

Slang.

an underhand or illegal arrangement, especially one secured through bribery or influence.
a contest, situation, etc., whose outcome is prearranged dishonestly.

Verb Phrases

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.

fix up, Informal.

to arrange for: to fix up a date.
to provide with; furnish.
to repair; renew.
to smooth over; solve: They weren't able to fix up their differences.

OTHER WORDS FOR fix

1 correct, amend.

3, 4 fasten, secure, stabilize.

5 establish, define.

27 dilemma, plight, quandary.

See synonyms for fix on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about fix

fix one's wagon, Informal. to exact retribution for an offense; treat someone vengefully: I'll dock his pay and that will fix his wagon.

in a fix, Older Slang. pregnant.

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”

synonym study for fix

3, 4. 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.

usage note for fix

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM fix

fix·a·ble, adjectivefix·a·bil·i·ty, nouno·ver·fix, verbre·fix, verb (used with object), re·fixed, re·fix·ing.

un·fix·a·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fix in a sentence

This hearty, golden riff on shepherd’s pie will help you get your mashed potato fix as part of the topping.
Vegetarian and vegan main dishes to anchor your Thanksgiving menu|Becky Krystal, Kari Sonde|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Also, their success depends on whether the irritations of our disorganized contact books are serious enough to make people seek a fix.
Marissa Mayer launches her first startup|Lucinda Shen|November 18, 2020|Fortune
The problem lies in the way that machine-learning models are trained and tested, and there’s no easy fix.
The way we train AI is fundamentally flawed|Will Heaven|November 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review
While there are multiple quick fixes to faking your geographic location in search, a serious SEO effort will require a more permanent solution.
How to check Google search results for different locations|Sponsored Content: SEO PowerSuite|November 17, 2020|Search Engine Land

Being home all that time just leads people to have this kind of susceptibility to do short-term fixes, to get some kind of instant gratification.
Free money, big addictions: Inside the booming world of online sports betting|Brett Haensel|November 15, 2020|Fortune
Many patients who die have fixable wounds—their deaths are from hemorrhage.
New 'Suspended Animation' Procedure Saves Lives by Replacing Blood with a Cold Electrolyte Solution|Elizabeth Lopatto|April 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This particular run, however, is easy fixable by natural features.
Down the Yellowstone|Lewis R. Freeman

British Dictionary definitions for fix

fix

/ (fɪks) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to make or become firm, stable, or secure

to attach or place permanentlyfix the mirror to the wall

(often foll by up) to settle definitely; decidelet us fix a date

to hold or direct (eyes, attention, etc) steadilyhe fixed his gaze on the woman

to call to attention or rivet

to make rigidto fix one's jaw

to place or ascribeto fix the blame on someone

to mend or repair

informal to provide withhow are you fixed for supplies?

informal to influence (a person, outcome of a contest, etc) unfairly, as by bribery

slang to take revenge on; get even with, esp by killing

informal to give (someone) his just desertsthat'll fix him

informal to arrange or put in orderto fix one's hair

informal to prepareto fix a meal

dialect, or informal to spay or castrate (an animal)

US dialect, or informal to prepare oneselfI'm fixing to go out

photog to treat (a film, plate, or paper) with fixer to make permanent the image rendered visible by developer

cytology to kill, preserve, and harden (tissue, cells, etc) for subsequent microscopic study

to convert (atmospheric nitrogen) into nitrogen compounds, as in the manufacture of fertilizers or the action of bacteria in the soil
to convert (carbon dioxide) into organic compounds, esp carbohydrates, as occurs in photosynthesis in plants and some microorganisms

to reduce (a substance) to a solid or condensed state or a less volatile state

(intr) slang to inject a drug

noun

informal a predicament; dilemma

the ascertaining of the navigational position, as of a ship, by radar, observation, etc

slang an intravenous injection of a drug, esp heroin

informal an act or instance of bribery

Derived forms of fix

fixable, adjective

Word Origin for fix

C15: from Medieval Latin fixāre, from Latin fixus fixed, from Latin fīgere

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for fix

fix

[ fĭks ]

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. See more at carbon fixation nitrogen fixation.

To convert a substance, especially a gas, into solid or liquid form by chemical reactions.

To kill and preserve a tissue specimen rapidly to retain as nearly as possible the characteristics it had in the living body.

Other Idioms and Phrases with fix

fix

In addition to the idioms beginning with fix

fix someone's wagon
fix up

also see:

get a fix
get a fix on
if it ain't broke don't fix it
in a fix