firm

Less common meanings

7. 7
   adjective

   Of a person's manner, voice or treatment of others: making clear that something must be done and allowing no argument.

   The manager stayed firm with employees who tried to bend the rules.

   Be firm with the children, or they will never follow the schedule.

   UsageUsually firm with a person and firm about a rule: be firm with the children.

   Similarstrict, stern, tough, resolute

   Oppositelenient, permissive, lax

8. 8
   definiteadjective

   Definite or settled, and unlikely to be changed, as of an offer, a date, a reservation or a decision.

   The buyers made a firm offer of $350,000 and asked for an answer within two days.

   The hotel needs a firm reservation and a deposit before it can hold the rooms.

   UsageCommon with offer, date, answer and booking; to make a plan settled is to firm it up.

   Similardefinite, confirmed, fixed, settled

   Oppositetentative, provisional

9. 9
   hardenverbtransitive

   To make something firm: harder, more solid, or more securely fixed in place.

   After setting the young tree in its hole, firm the soil around the roots with your heel so the trunk stays upright in the wind.

   Gardeners firm the soil to help young roots take hold.

   UsageOften with up, as in firm up your stomach muscles.

   Similarharden, stiffen

   Oppositesoften

   Note

   The verb has two parents. Middle English fermen came partly from Latin firmare, either directly or through Old French fermer, and partly from English speakers simply turning the adjective into a verb. It reaches easily beyond bricks and soil. In Harriet Alexander's 2022 report, a dying whistleblower says a private prosecution against him had only "firmed his resolve" to keep fighting. Source

   Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

   • The verb derives from Middle English fermen, partly borrowed from Latin through Old French or directly, and partly formed from the adjective. en.wiktionary.org
   • Harriet Alexander wrote the report in 2022. en.wiktionary.org
   • The report describes the whistleblower, Troy Stolz, as dying. leightonassociates.co.nz
   • The report attributes strengthened resolve to Stolz and contains the exact words firmed his resolve. leightonassociates.co.nz
   • The immediately preceding action was a private criminal prosecution for contempt. The report separately mentions a civil lawsuit. leightonassociates.co.nz
10. 10
    hardenverbintransitive

    To become solid, steady, or settled.

    The mixture should firm within an hour of chilling.

    Soft clay firms quickly once it is exposed to the air.

    UsageCommon in recipes, often with up: chill until the mixture firms up.

    Similarset, solidify, thicken, congeal, steady

    Oppositemelt

11. 11
    prices not fallingadjective

    Said of prices, currencies or markets that hold their level or tend to go up instead of falling.

    Oil prices remained firm despite reports of rising supply.

    Analysts expect the housing market to stay firm through the spring.

    UsageOften after stay, remain or hold: prices remained firm. The opposite is weak or soft.

    Similarsteady, stable, strong

    Oppositeweak

    Note

    A market reporter's word, usually for prices that are holding or edging up rather than soaring, so it tends to suit a steady day more than a rally. The verb turns up on the same pages (oil firmed in late trading), close to the 'recover after a fall' verb.

12. 12
    verbintransitive

    To start rising again or to grow stronger after a period of falling, as prices, a currency or an economy may.

    Stock values firm whenever investors regain their confidence.

    The currency firmed slightly after the central bank's announcement.

    Similarrally, recover, strengthen, rebound

    Oppositeweaken, fall, slump, decline

    Note

    Markets supply most of the subjects: stock values, currencies, prices. The verb takes no object, and it usually describes a recovery to a steadier, somewhat higher level after a fall rather than a boom. It is the "become firm" sense carried over into figures, where steadiness itself counts as good news.

13. 13
    gangnounslangcountable

    A criminal gang, especially one organized around soccer hooliganism.

    A notorious firm clashed with rival supporters outside the stadium.

    After the match, police broke up a fight between the home club's firm and a group of away fans.

    Similargang, crew, mob

    Note

    Criminal slang borrows the respectable business word, so a gang that calls itself a firm presents its violence as organized work. The strongest association is with football hooliganism, where a firm is the organized crew among a club's supporters that plans clashes with rivals.

14. 14
    push throughverbcolloquialtransitive

    To endure something unpleasant by forcing oneself through it.

    The night shifts were miserable, but she chose to firm it until a day job opened up.

    You'll just have to firm it until the medication kicks in.

    UsageUsually as firm it: you just have to firm it until it is over.

    Similarendure, bear, weather, brave

15. 15
    choose universityverbslangUKtransitive

    To accept a university's offer as one's first choice, securing the place once the offer's conditions, usually exam grades, are met.

    Most applicants firm the university they most want to attend.

    She firmed Manchester and listed Leeds as her insurance choice.

    Similarchoose, select

    Note

    Student slang from British university admissions, where applicants rank the conditional offers they hold through UCAS. To firm a university is to make it your firm choice, the place you are committed to once you meet the offer's conditions. The backup is the insurance choice.

16. 16
    betting oddsverbAustraliaintransitive

    Of betting odds, to shorten, so that a successful bet on that outcome would now pay out less.

    Once word got out that the champion mare had drawn the inside barrier, her odds began to firm.

    The colt's odds firmed from ten-to-one to six-to-one overnight.

    Similarshorten

    Oppositedrift, lengthen

    Note

    Australian betting talk for a price that is getting shorter. Odds firm as money comes in on a horse or a team, and the runner itself can be said to firm, as when a horse firms to start favorite.