solid

SAH-lid/ˈsɑ.lɪd/UKSOL-id/ˈsɒl.ɪd/

Noun pluralsolids

26 meanings of solid

1
hard (not liquid)adjective
Firm and keeping its own shape, so you can hold it, not like a liquid or gas.
Like a rock or an ice cube: you can hold it in your hand.
Ice is solid, but it melts into water when it gets warm.
Cold butter is solid, but it melts in a hot pan.
UsagePeople often say water froze solid, meaning it turned completely hard.
Oppositeliquid, gaseous, fluid
2
adjective
In good condition and not weak or likely to fail.
Like a tree with deep roots that storms cannot knock down.
After twenty years, their marriage is still solid.
The roof is old, but it is still solid and has no leaks.
Similarsound, robust, healthy, stable
Oppositeshaky
3
adjective
Very good, or something you can trust and depend on.
Like a friend who always keeps their promises.
That was a solid effort from the whole team.
He gave me some solid advice about saving money.
UsageIt often means good without being amazing: a solid effort.
Similargreat, excellent, strong, reliable, dependable
Oppositepoor, weak, shaky, unreliable
4
nouncountable
Something that keeps its shape and size on its own, not flowing like water or air.
Like an ice cube, which keeps its own shape until it melts.
Ice is a solid, while steam is a gas.
When the liquid cools, it turns into a solid.
Oppositeliquid, gas, fluid
5
all one materialadjective
Having no empty space inside, or made of the same material all the way through.
Like a chocolate bar that is full all the way through, with no holes.
The statue is carved from solid stone.
This door is solid, not hollow like the cheap ones.
UsageOften before a material: solid gold, solid wood.
Similarpure, unalloyed
Oppositehollow
6
adjective
Strong and not easily bent, broken, or moved.
Like a strong wall that does not move when you push it.
The old bridge is still solid after a hundred years.
We built the fence on a solid wooden frame.
Similarfirm, sturdy, strong, robust, stout
Oppositeweak, flimsy, shaky, fragile
7
adjective
Deserving of trust and respect, and based on careful thinking rather than silly ideas.
Like a chair with strong legs you can sit on without worry.
She made a solid argument that convinced the judges.
The report was built on solid facts.
Similarsound, firm, strong, valid, convincing
Oppositeflimsy, shaky, weak, unsound
Note
8
all one coloradjective
Having just one color all over, with no pattern.
She wore a solid blue dress to the party.
The wall is painted a solid white.
Similarplain, uniform
Oppositepatterned, printed, multicolored
9
good-sizedadjective
Large in size, amount, or worth.
She earns a solid salary at her new job.
They won the game by a solid margin.
Similarsubstantial, considerable, sizable
Oppositeslim, meager, paltry
10
foodnounplural
Food that is not mostly liquid, unlike milk, juice, or soup.
The baby started eating solids at about six months old.
After his surgery, he lived on soup and could not eat solids for a week.
UsageSay a baby starts on solids, or someone can't eat solids yet.
Oppositeliquid
11
adjective
Whole and complete, with no break or pause in between.
We drove for three solid hours without a single break.
She spent a solid week cleaning the whole house.
UsageSay a solid hour or three solid hours for time with no break.
Similarfull, whole, entire, uninterrupted
Note
12
3D shapenouncountable
A shape that has length, width, and height, not just a flat surface.
Like a brick or a ball: something you can hold, not just a flat drawing.
A cube is the first solid most students learn to draw.
The teacher asked us to count the faces on each solid.
Note

Less common meanings

13
favornouncolloquialcountable
A kind thing you do to help someone out.
Like helping a friend carry boxes when they ask you to.
Can you do me a solid and watch my dog tonight?
He did me a solid by covering my shift at work.
UsagePeople say do me a solid or I owe you a solid.
Similarfavor, kindness, service
Note
14
unbroken lineadjective
Drawn as one unbroken line, not dotted or dashed.
Like one long pencil stroke with no gaps in it.
Draw a solid line under the title.
The road had a solid yellow line down the middle.
Similarcontinuous, unbroken
Oppositedashed, dotted, broken
15
adjective
Having money matters in good order, able to pay what is owed.
The bank is solid, so your money is safe there.
Is the company solid enough to pay back the loan?
Similarsolvent, secure, comfortable, prosperous, well-off
Oppositeinsolvent, broke
16
heavy (weather)adjective
Steady and heavy, going on without a break.
There was solid rain all afternoon.
We sat in the car while solid rain drummed on the roof.
Similarcontinuous, steady, relentless, constant
Oppositeintermittent, sporadic
17
heartyadjective
Big and filling enough to satisfy your hunger.
We had a solid breakfast before the long hike.
Grandma never lets us leave without a solid dinner inside us.
Similarhearty, filling, substantial, square, satisfying
Oppositelight, meager, skimpy
18
without a breakadverb
Firmly, completely, or continuously without a break.
She slept solid through the whole night.
They worked solid all weekend to finish the job.
UsagePut it after the verb: booked solid. In other places, solidly is usually better.
Similarcontinuously, nonstop, fully, completely, straight
Oppositeintermittently, sporadically
Note
19
adjective
All agreeing and acting together.
The workers stood solid behind their union during the strike.
The whole town was solid against the plan to close the school.
UsagePeople say a group stands solid behind someone.
20
nouncountable
A piece of clothing that is just one color all over, with no patterns.
Like a plain T-shirt that is all one color, with no pictures on it.
If your pants have a pattern, wear a solid on top.
She paired a bright solid with striped pants for the party.
Oppositeprint
21
adjective
Written as a single word, with no spaces or dashes between the parts.
Like joining two train cars into one, with no gap left between them.
The word 'baseball' is solid, so do not add a space.
The dictionary lists 'goodbye' as a solid word.
Similarclosed
Oppositeopen, hyphenated
Note
22
as one wordadverb
In a way that joins the parts into one word, with no spaces or dashes.
Print the compound solid, with no hyphen between the parts.
The name is now spelled solid in most newspapers.
23
cubicadjectivedated
Measured in all three dimensions, not just on a flat side.
"What have plane figures to do with solid orbits? Solid bodies ought to be used for solid orbits."
1841, David Brewster, The Martyrs of ScienceHere, solid means having all three dimensions, not flat.
A solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
Similarcubic
Note
24
close friendsadjectivedated
Close and friendly with someone, and liked or supported by them.
I wanted to get solid with him for a time while he lived, but I believe he might have been worked into Paradise with half the scheming that was necessary before he deigned to look favorably upon me.
1895, OutingHere, solid means on close, friendly, trusting terms with someone.
[Image of a man labelled 'League of Nations' pointing to a picture of a woman labelled 'Democracy Wilson'.] "If I can only get solid with her I stand a chance in this peace game." - The Passing Show (London).
1919, Literary Digest: a Repository of Contemporaneous Thought and Research as Presented in the Periodical Literature of the World
Similarclose, tight, friendly, thick
Oppositeestranged, distant
Note
25
no line spacingadjective
Printed with no extra space between the lines of text.
Like stacking books with no gaps left between them on a shelf.
The old page was set solid, with the lines packed tight.
The old newspaper was set solid, so its lines sat very close together.
Oppositeleaded
Note
26
adjective
Measured as if the pieces were packed together with no gaps between them.

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5–9, 11, 14–19, 21–25

From Latin solidus, meaning "solid," which came through Old French into English.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Solid ultimately comes from Latin solidus, meaning solid. en.wiktionary.org
The word passed through Old French into English. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 4, 10, 12–13, 20

The noun may come from the adjective "solid," Middle French solide, or Latin solidum.