Meaning & use
firms
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“firms” is a form of “firm”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralbusiness
Businesses, especially small or mid-sized ones that sell services or products.
Grammar: Plural of firm; a single one is a firm: several firms applied.
Patterns
- firms in somewhere
- firms that do something
Several local firms offered her a job.
Law firms in the city are hiring more graduates.
Small firms often struggle to compete with large chains.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Third-person form of firm: to make something harder, steadier or more certain.
Grammar: She firms the soil around the plant; prices firm up.
Patterns
- firm something up
- firm up
She firms the soil around the seedling.
Exercise firms the muscles in your legs.
The market firms when buyers return.
Word forms
| singular | firm |
|---|
Common combinations
- law firms
- Law firms hire many assistants.
- consulting firms
- Consulting firms advise on strategy.
- rival firms
- Rival firms bid for the contract.
- small firms
- Small firms create many jobs.
- private firms
- Private firms run the service now.
- firms up
- The plan firms up next week.
Synonyms and how they differ
- companies
- Companies is the more general word, while firms often suggests professional or partnership businesses.
- businesses
- Businesses is the broadest term and includes tiny shops.
- enterprises
- Enterprises sounds more formal or large-scale.
- corporations
- Corporations are large companies, usually legally incorporated, which is narrower than firms.
Word family
Commonly confused: firms or farms?
firms vs farms
Farms grow food and animals, while firms are businesses.
Practice
Three accounting ______ interviewed her.
Choose one answer.
Firms are businesses, and accounting firms provide financial services. Farms and forms sound similar but have different meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “firms”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.