Firm — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb verb noun /ˈfərm/

Meaning & Definition of Firm

Firm (adjective)

  1. securely or solidly fixed in place
  2. not weak or uncertain, vigorous
  3. having a solid or compact structure that resists stress or pressure

Firm (adverb)

  1. in a firm manner, steadfastly, fixedly

Firm (verb)

  1. to make secure or fast, tighten —often used with up
  2. to make solid or compact
  3. to put into final form, settle

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

Firm (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a commercial or industrial activity or organization

    "merged with another firm to become a major player in the brokerage business"

    similar: business, company, concern, enterprise, establishment, house, interest, outfit
    related: conglomerate, corporation, multinational, association, cartel, chain, combine, syndicate, trust, agency, dealer, outlet, microenterprise

Firm (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not showing weakness or uncertainty

    "a friendly fellow with a ready smile and a firm handshake"

    similar: forceful, hearty, iron, lusty, robust, solid, stout, strong, sturdy, vigorous
    related: hard, ironclad, mighty, powerful, tough, unyielding, animated, brisk, energetic, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, assured, certain, confident, sanguine, secure, sure
    opposite: uncertain, weak
    near: feeble, fragile, frail, limp, listless, spiritless, diffident, insecure, self-doubting, characterless, effete, spineless, weakened, weak-kneed, wimpy, wishy-washy

  2. having a consistency that does not easily yield to pressure

    "cold butter that was too firm to spread"

    similar: compact, hard, rigid, solid, stiff, unyielding
    related: case-hardened, compacted, compressed, hardened, indurated, stiffened, tempered, close, dense, heavy, thick, thickset, inelastic, inflexible, ramrod, unbending, condensed, adamantine, rocklike, sturdy, substantial, impenetrable, impermeable, nonporous
    opposite: flabby, soft, spongy, squashy, squishy
    near: loose, scattered, thin, bendable, elastic, flexible, malleable, pliable, pliant, supple, droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, limp, slack, airy, light, permeable, porous, ultrasoft

  3. firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge

    "was firm in the saddle during the canter"

    similar: fast, frozen, jammed, lodged, set, snug, stuck, tight, wedged
    related: bonded, cemented, glued, anchored, clamped, embedded, entrenched, impacted, implanted, attached, bound, fastened, secured, immovable, unyielding
    opposite: insecure, loose
    near: detached, dislodged, freed, loosened, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, unsecured, movable, yielding

  4. fully committed to achieving a goal

    "asked him to reconsider, but he was firm in his commitment to the project"

    similar: bent (on or upon), bound, decisive, determined, do-or-die, hell-bent (on or upon), intent, out, purposeful, resolute, resolved, set, single-minded, on one's mettle
    related: bitter, vehement, certain, cocksure, confident, positive, sure, earnest, serious, steady, unfaltering, unhesitating, unswerving, unwavering, adamant, adamantine, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, persistent, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful
    opposite: faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed
    near: distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure, disinclined, indisposed, loath, reluctant

  5. having been established and usually not subject to change

    "the selling price of the house is firm, so there'll be no dickering"

    similar: certain, determinate, final, fixed, flat, frozen, hard, hard-and-fast, inexpugnable, set, settled, stable
    related: nonadjustable, noncancelable, nonnegotiable, unchangeable, constant, steady, unchanging, uniform, unwavering, definite, exact, explicit, specific, given, stated, stipulated, dependable, good, reliable, responsible, safe, solid, sure, tried, tried-and-true, true, trustworthy, trusty
    near: adjustable, changeable, negotiable, indefinite, open-ended, unspecified, capricious, changeful, flickery, fluctuating, fluid, inconstant, mercurial, mutable, temperamental, uncertain, unpredictable, unsettled, unstable, unsteady, variable, volatile

  6. marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion

    "built on a firm foundation, so the house hasn't settled"

    similar: bombproof, fast, sound, stable, stalwart, strong, sturdy
    related: dependable, durable, reliable, infrangible, irrefragable, unbreakable, beefy, solid, cohesive, tough
    opposite: rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady
    near: infirm, insecure, weak, shaky, tottering, tottery, unbalanced, wobbly, unsubstantial

  7. based on sound reasoning or information

    "that assassination theory is far from firm, since there's not a shred of actual evidence to back it up"

    similar: commonsense, commonsensible, commonsensical, good, hard, informed, just, justified, levelheaded, logical, rational, reasonable, reasoned, sensible, sober, solid, valid, well-founded
    related: actual, real, true, certain, sure, certified, validated, verified, confirmed, corroborated, substantiated, cogent, convincing, colorable, credible, plausible
    opposite: groundless, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, nonsensical, nonvalid, unfounded, uninformed, unjustified, unreasonable, unreasoned, unsound
    near: unsubstantiated, unsupported, unwarranted, flimsy, implausible, unconvincing, weak, fallacious, false, misguided, misled

Related Entry: Firm (up) (verb)

Firm (up) is a different word from Firm. The synonyms below are for firm (up), not for firm.

  1. to become physically firm or solid

    "wait for the modeling clay to firm up before handling the finished pot"

    similar: concrete, congeal, freeze, harden, indurate, set, solidify
    related: cake, callus, encrust, clot, coagulate, gel, gelate, gelatinize, jell, jelly, stiffen, thicken, calcify, crystallize, ossify, petrify, rigidify, anneal, case-harden, temper
    opposite: liquefy, soften
    near: deliquesce, dissolve, flux, fuse, melt, smelt, thaw, unfreeze

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Firm

The most common words with a similar meaning to Firm:

business, company, concern, enterprise, establishment, house, interest, outfit, forceful, hearty, iron, lusty, robust, solid, stout, strong, sturdy, vigorous, compact, hard, rigid, stiff, unyielding, fast, frozen, jammed, lodged, set, snug, stuck, tight, wedged, bent (on or upon), bound, decisive, determined, do-or-die, hell-bent (on or upon), intent, out

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Firm

Words with the opposite meaning of Firm:

uncertain, weak, flabby, soft, spongy, squashy, squishy, insecure, loose, faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed, rickety, unsound, unstable, unsteady, groundless, illogical, invalid, irrational, nonrational, nonsensical, nonvalid, unfounded

Related Words for Firm

conglomerate, corporation, multinational, association, cartel, chain, combine, syndicate, trust, agency, dealer, outlet, microenterprise, ironclad, mighty, powerful, tough, animated, brisk, energetic, frisky, jaunty, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy

Near Antonyms of Firm

feeble, fragile, frail, limp, listless, spiritless, diffident, self-doubting, characterless, effete, spineless, weakened, wimpy, wishy-washy, scattered, thin, bendable, elastic, flexible, malleable, pliable, pliant, supple, droopy, flaccid, floppy, lank, slack, airy, light

Word Forms of Firm

Inflections: firmed, firming, firms

Derived words: firmly (adverb), firmness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Firm

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

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Firm

private equity firm, hold firm, law firm, on firm ground/footing, stand firm, take a firm line

Frequently Asked Questions about Firm

What does "Firm" mean?

"Firm" means securely or solidly fixed in place. As an an adjective, an adverb, a verb and a noun, it is defined as: securely or solidly fixed in place. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Firm"?

Other words for "Firm" include business, company, concern, enterprise, establishment, house, interest and outfit. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Firm" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Firm"?

There are 217 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Firm". Common alternatives include business, company, concern, enterprise, establishment, house, interest, outfit, forceful and hearty.

What is the opposite of "Firm"?

Antonyms of "Firm" include uncertain, weak, flabby, soft, spongy, squashy, squishy and insecure. Near antonyms include feeble, fragile, frail and limp.

How do you use "Firm" in a sentence?

Examples of "Firm" in a sentence: "merged with another firm to become a major player in the brokerage business"; "a friendly fellow with a ready smile and a firm handshake"; "cold butter that was too firm to spread".

Is "Firm" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Firm" can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Firm"?

"Firm" is pronounced /ˈfərm/.

What is the origin of the word "Firm"?

"Firm" comes from Middle English ferm, from Anglo-French, from Latin firmus; akin to Greek thronos chair, throne. First known use: 14th century.