1
a
: securely or solidly fixed in place
his teeth were firm
b
: not weak or uncertain : vigorous
a firm handshake
c
: having a solid or compact structure that resists stress or pressure
firm apples
2
a(1)
: not subject to change or revision
a firm offer
a firm date
(2)
: not subject to price weakness : steady
firm commodities
b
: not easily moved or disturbed : steadfast
a firm believer in democracy
c
: well-founded
firm evidence of criminal activity
3
: indicating firmness or resolution
a firm mouth
a firm voice
firmly
adverb
firmness
noun
: in a firm manner : steadfastly, fixedly
firmed; firming; firms
1
a
: to make secure or fast : tighten
firming her grip on the racquet
—often used with up
b
: to make solid or compact
firm the soil
2
: to put into final form : settle
firm a contract
firm up plans
3
: to give additional support to : strengthen
—usually used with up
1
: the name or title under which a company transacts business
2
: a partnership of two or more persons that is not recognized as a legal person distinct from the members composing it
3
: a business unit or enterprise
Synonyms
Examples of firm in a Sentence
Adjective
She has a firm grasp of the basic principles.
They insist on maintaining firm control over the project.
He spoke to her in a soft but firm voice.
The time has come for us to take a firm stand.
The children need gentle but firm handling.
Noun
merged with another firm to become a major player in the brokerage business
Recent Examples on the Web
Quanta Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
Israeli government hardliners have called for firm action.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Look for firm radishes with bright green, perky tops when buying them at your local farmer's market or grocery store.
—Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
Nationwide, more than 20,000 media jobs were slashed last year alone, according to the firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which tracks employment figures.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
The University of Wisconsin System paid outside firm Deloitte $2.8 million to assess the financial health of its individual campuses.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Tough guys with a soft side have long held a firm grip on the American imagination.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Fortune als reports she was connected with several angel investors through the firm Slauson & Co, who also invested in the company.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024
The stalks should be firm and smooth, other than the tiny petal leaves that emerge.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 24 Feb. 2023
The Fed plans to publish aggregate findings from the exercise but no firm-specific information.
—Reuters, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2022
The mandatory disclosure of more firm-specific information has also improved capital allocation across various industries.
—Diane Hoskins, Fortune, 26 May 2022
For more firm-looking and radiant skin, this professional-grade pair is tops.
—Megan McIntyre, Town & Country, 21 Sep. 2021
In addition to the CIO, oversight from a sustainability committee that ensures a firm-wide holistic approach and quality control is helpful.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2021
After graduating from Yale University in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture (later converted to a master’s degree according to Jack Jr.,) Bialosky Sr. founded the firm now known as Bialosky Cleveland.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 17 Apr. 2020
Another prominent original occupant — the trust company occupied about half the building — was the Los Angeles law firm now known as O’Melveny & Myers.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2019
Two law firms, Marchena and Graham and the former Broad & Cassel law firm now known as Nelson Mullins received the bulk of the payments.
—Beth Kassab, orlandosentinel.com, 18 Sep. 2019
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
His potatoes did not firm up enough overnight, making for soft croquettes that began falling apart as the day went on.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
Street shots were also firmed there showing off Cincinnati's historic architecture.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024
Chief among those is the United States, which, since Marcos came to power, has been steadily firming up a relationship that suffered during the Duterte years with deals that expand its access to Philippine military bases.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
The city has six months to firm up plans regarding the legislation, which goes into effect Oct. 1.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Budge said 12 or 13 5,000-pound concrete highway barriers will likely be installed to firm up walls.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024
How to find the right firming body cream What to look for in a firming body cream
Which ingredients should be in a skin-firming cream?
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2024
The Padres have only two outfielders on their active roster and need to firm up their rotation behind Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Michael King.
—Bernie Wilson, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Relations Between China and the U.S. Rattling the Biotech Industry: A major Chinese firm that makes blockbuster drugs for the American market has come under scrutiny by Congress over national security concerns.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
For 2023, the firm reported net income of $38 million compared with a loss of nearly $55 million in 2022.
—María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
The firm launched in 2019, the same year as Crown Shy, and Haimovic and Stein’s first big investment was SpringHill.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
The firm is in talks with potential buyers for more than a billion dollars worth of assets in Europe and in the U.S., the report said.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite this, firms have typically pressed ahead with implementing AI to manage staff.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024
Foster lingers to greet every one, the smiles genuine, the handshakes firm.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Prior to joining the Southern Living team, Cameron worked with an art gallery, a branding and creative firm, and a marketing firm with a variety of roles from writing to photography to design.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Since the early 17th century, when Johannes Kepler formulated his laws, physicists and mathematicians have had a firm grasp on how to describe the motion of two bodies subject to gravity.
—Quanta Magazine, 15 Apr. 2024
Israeli government hardliners have called for firm action.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
Look for firm radishes with bright green, perky tops when buying them at your local farmer's market or grocery store.
—Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
Nationwide, more than 20,000 media jobs were slashed last year alone, according to the firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which tracks employment figures.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
The University of Wisconsin System paid outside firm Deloitte $2.8 million to assess the financial health of its individual campuses.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Tough guys with a soft side have long held a firm grip on the American imagination.
—Naveen Kumar, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Fortune als reports she was connected with several angel investors through the firm Slauson & Co, who also invested in the company.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024
The stalks should be firm and smooth, other than the tiny petal leaves that emerge.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Bezos hires firm to explore the possibility of NFL team bid Amazon founder Jeff Bezos hired a firm to research a possible bid for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, sources told the Washington Post.
—Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 24 Feb. 2023
The Fed plans to publish aggregate findings from the exercise but no firm-specific information.
—Reuters, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2022
The mandatory disclosure of more firm-specific information has also improved capital allocation across various industries.
—Diane Hoskins, Fortune, 26 May 2022
For more firm-looking and radiant skin, this professional-grade pair is tops.
—Megan McIntyre, Town & Country, 21 Sep. 2021
In addition to the CIO, oversight from a sustainability committee that ensures a firm-wide holistic approach and quality control is helpful.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2021
After graduating from Yale University in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture (later converted to a master’s degree according to Jack Jr.,) Bialosky Sr. founded the firm now known as Bialosky Cleveland.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 17 Apr. 2020
Another prominent original occupant — the trust company occupied about half the building — was the Los Angeles law firm now known as O’Melveny & Myers.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2019
Two law firms, Marchena and Graham and the former Broad & Cassel law firm now known as Nelson Mullins received the bulk of the payments.
—Beth Kassab, orlandosentinel.com, 18 Sep. 2019
Verb
The field for the Kentucky Derby firmed up on Saturday on the last day of major prep races and, despite some doubts, California will have a horse in the race.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
His potatoes did not firm up enough overnight, making for soft croquettes that began falling apart as the day went on.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
Street shots were also firmed there showing off Cincinnati's historic architecture.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024
Chief among those is the United States, which, since Marcos came to power, has been steadily firming up a relationship that suffered during the Duterte years with deals that expand its access to Philippine military bases.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
The city has six months to firm up plans regarding the legislation, which goes into effect Oct. 1.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Budge said 12 or 13 5,000-pound concrete highway barriers will likely be installed to firm up walls.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Mar. 2024
How to find the right firming body cream What to look for in a firming body cream
Which ingredients should be in a skin-firming cream?
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2024
The Padres have only two outfielders on their active roster and need to firm up their rotation behind Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Michael King.
—Bernie Wilson, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
That budget will continue to be revised as officials gather more information from unit leaders and the consulting firm brought on to analyze the athletics budget and UAGC.
—The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024
Relations Between China and the U.S. Rattling the Biotech Industry: A major Chinese firm that makes blockbuster drugs for the American market has come under scrutiny by Congress over national security concerns.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
For 2023, the firm reported net income of $38 million compared with a loss of nearly $55 million in 2022.
—María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024
The firm launched in 2019, the same year as Crown Shy, and Haimovic and Stein’s first big investment was SpringHill.
—Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024
The firm is in talks with potential buyers for more than a billion dollars worth of assets in Europe and in the U.S., the report said.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024
Despite this, firms have typically pressed ahead with implementing AI to manage staff.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 18 Apr. 2024
Foster lingers to greet every one, the smiles genuine, the handshakes firm.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Prior to joining the Southern Living team, Cameron worked with an art gallery, a branding and creative firm, and a marketing firm with a variety of roles from writing to photography to design.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'firm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near firm
Cite this Entry
“Firm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firm. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
firm
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: solidly fixed in place
b
: not weak or uncertain : vigorous
c
: having a solid or compact texture
2
a
: not likely to be changed
a firm offer
b
: not easily moved or disturbed : steadfast
a firm believer
3
: indicating firmness or determination
firmly
adverb
firmness
noun
firm
2 of 4 adverb
: in a firm manner
stood firm
firm
3 of 4 verb1
a
: to make secure
firm your grip on the racket
b
: to make solid or compact
firm the soil
2
: to become firm
firm
4 of 4 noun
: a business organization
law firm
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English ferm "firm, secure," from early French ferm (same meaning), from Latin firmus "firm, secure, solid"
Noun
from German firma "the name or sign under which a company does business," from Italian firma "signature," derived from Latin firmare "to make firm, to approve, to sign," from firmus "firm, secure"
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