firm

1 of 4

adjective

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

firm

2 of 4

adverb

: in a firm manner : steadfastly, fixedly

firm

3 of 4

verb

firmed; firming; firms

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1
: to become firm : harden
often used with up
2
: to recover from a decline : improve
the market is firming

firm

4 of 4

noun

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

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
Adjective
In the absence of firm information, conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the vacuum. Jill Lawless, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2024 Starting just before Christmas, Youngkin political adviser Matthew Moran led conference calls about the project every weekday at 8 a.m. with two cabinet secretaries, lobbyists and representatives from Alexandria, Leonsis’s firm Monumental Sports & Entertainment and other private companies involved. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 In 2018, the SEC found that former PCAOB officials had leaked confidential inspection information to audit firm KPMG in order to allegedly help the firm cheat on its inspections. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 His first branding agency job after graduation was with the firm Wolff Olins. Alex Vadukul, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Ocean Infinity’s involvement in the search actually dates back to 2018, when the Malaysian government offered the firm $70 million to find the plane, according to ABC News. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Does the firm reply to any negative reviews, and if so, how? Your Workers’ Compensation Claim Has Value, and So Do You If you have been disabled, especially at work, then the consequences to you can be serious and long-lasting. David Stubblefield, The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 The brand's signature Cell Service complex of growth factors and peptides essentially boosts skin's collagen and elastin product, while promoting firmer, bouncier skin. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 If this process starts too soon, there will likely be pushback from IT since what is shown is still mostly a dream without a firm foundation on how it can be realized. Barbara Wittmann, Forbes, 29 Feb. 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
She’s firmed up the line between person and persona while smudging the line between the music and the listener. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Apple debuted a new sports app Wednesday (Feb. 21) — firming its foothold in the lucrative live sports streaming market. Laura Bratton, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024 Either would be worthy of this list if details were firmed up. Rory Appleton, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024 In 2021 alone, more than 22,000 PTs – almost a tenth of the workforce – left their jobs, according to a report by the health data analytics firm Definitive Healthcare. Mark Kreidler | Kaiser Health News, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2023 Chill until frosting has firmed and set, about 30 minutes. Anna Theoktisto, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2024 But help was on the way with both the county sheriff’s marine patrol and U.S. Coast Guard monitoring the situation and county code enforcement officials firming up plans to clean up the mess. Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024 The tool also helps with increasing collagen production, firming up sagging skin, and even stimulating hair growth thanks to the replaceable attachment heads that can be used on your face and scalp. Jenn Barthole, Glamour, 23 Jan. 2024 The star ingredient in this formula is black tea, which boosts the skin’s elasticity and helps to create a firming effect on the complexion for a more refreshed look. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2023
Noun
The Securities and Exchange Commission has asserted in court that cryptocurrency should be regulated like stocks and bonds, which would require trading firms to follow a wide range of disclosure and investor protection laws. Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 And yet businesses are now estimated to spend more than $6 billion per year on RPA software, according to technology analytics firm Forrester Research, a figure that is growing at a double-digit percentage clip. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Michel met with representatives of major defense firms on Monday. Jorge Valero, Bloomberg.com, 14 Mar. 2024 The firm has been expanding in countries that need a supply of modern homes and offices, and has large mixed-use projects in Albania, Serbia and Ethiopia. Veronika Gulyas, Fortune Europe, 14 Mar. 2024 Yet both firms are delaying the start of production at one of two Kentucky facilities to an unspecified date. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 14 Mar. 2024 Commercial real estate and investment firm JLL represented the landlord, Phase 3 Real Estate Partners, in the lease, while AnaBios was represented by Newmark. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Topping the list are people associated with the Paul, Weiss firm, which has more than 1,000 attorneys and 10 offices around the world, including three in California. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 2 Mar. 2024 Marc Cooper is the Chief Executive Officer of Solomon Partners, a leading investment banking advisory firm founded in 1989. Marc Cooper, Forbes, 1 Mar. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, and Verb

Middle English ferm, from Anglo-French, from Latin firmus; akin to Greek thronos chair, throne

Noun

German Firma, from Italian, signature, ultimately from Latin firmare to make firm, confirm, from firmus

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of firm was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near firm

Cite this Entry

“Firm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

firm

1 of 4 adjective
1
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 verb
1
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"

Legal Definition

firm

noun
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
Etymology

Noun

German Firma, from Italian, signature, ultimately from Latin firmare to make firm, confirm

More from Merriam-Webster on firm

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