Meaning & use
firm date
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A date that has been definitely decided and will not be changed.
Grammar: Countable: a firm date, two firm dates; often with set, agree on, or give.
Patterns
- set a firm date
- agree on a firm date
- give someone a firm date
- a firm date for something
We haven't set a firm date for the wedding yet.
The company gave us a firm date for the launch.
Please let me know a firm date as soon as possible.
Word forms
| plural | firm dates |
|---|
Common combinations
- set a firm date
- They set a firm date for the meeting.
- agree on a firm date
- We need to agree on a firm date before booking the hall.
- give someone a firm date
- Can you give me a firm date for the delivery?
- a firm date for something
- There is still no firm date for the election.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fixed date
- Fixed date is very close and often interchangeable, but it can also mean a date that is part of a regular schedule.
- deadline
- A deadline is the latest time something must be done; a firm date is simply a date that will not change.
Opposites
Commonly confused: firm date or firm up?
firm date vs firm up
Firm up is a phrasal verb meaning to make something more definite; a firm date is the result of doing that.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'firm date' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A firm date is a fixed, unchanging date, so June 5th fits. Option 2 contradicts the meaning, option 3 confuses it with the fruit, and option 4 uses it as a verb, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “firm date”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.