Definition of terra firmanext
as in soil
the solid part of our planet's surface as distinguished from the sea and air after that nightmarish storm, the sailors were grateful to reach terra firma

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of terra firma In the main salon, terra firma appears in dining chairs upholstered in real palm leaf and a two-piece oak coffee table, as large as a redwood’s base, inlaid with green and copper marble. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2025 With Florida’s agricultural and wild lands under increasing pressure from climate change, some scientists believe that sending seeds into space potentially could help strengthen them for what’s ahead back on Florida terra firma. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2025 The pinkish-coral horizon of the morning had given way to a bright cobalt sky, and as the chopper descended after the fun ride, Ted and I were ready for terra firma, eager to sit down for lunch. John Malone, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025 Back on terra firma, Johnny and I head west, to Pinar del Río, the province on the island's westerly tip that resembles the twisted, straggly end of a rustic country cigar, like the ones rolled by its farmers. Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for terra firma
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terra firma
Noun
  • Resources found in our soil should benefit the people who live on it, not just the executives who trade it.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Inspect the plant and its soil for signs like yellowing or wilting leaves, smelly soil, dropping leaves, leaf spots, and failure to bloom.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • An alternative, audacious vision for a new Bears stadium is one that starts with the vacant land on the South Side where the Michael Reese hospital once stood.
    David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • And with large tracts of government land outside town, there's plenty of room for more camps.
    Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The broader package includes Boeing P8I Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft for its navy, anti-tank mines for its ground forces, and upgrades to its Soviet-era T-72 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
  • These organisms survived the rise and fall of ice sheets, the extinction of megafauna and the entire arc of human history — all while sitting in frozen silence beneath the Alaskan ground.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The afternoon light crowns the earth in a golden haze, the glow of Hollywood movies during the Great Depression, the glow of Shirley Temple’s curly locks.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
  • There is also an 8,000 square-foot conservatory that is made of glass, showcasing rare and tropical plants from around the earth.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Terra firma.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terra%20firma. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!