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Meaning & use

state firmly

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌsteɪt ˈfɜːmli/
US/ˌsteɪt ˈfɜːrmli/

Meaning

  1. phraseidiom

    to say something in a strong, definite way that shows you are sure and will not change your mind

    Grammar: The adverb 'firmly' comes after the verb: state firmly, not 'firmly state' in most common use.

    Patterns

    • state something firmly
    • state firmly that ...

    She stated firmly that she would not accept the offer.

    He stated firmly his opinion about the new rules.

    The manager stated firmly that the deadline could not be moved.

Common combinations

state firmly that
He stated firmly that he was innocent.
state one's position firmly
The union stated its position firmly during the meeting.
state firmly and clearly
She stated firmly and clearly what she wanted.
state firmly one's intention
The president stated firmly his intention to run again.

Synonyms and how they differ

insist
Focuses on repeating or demanding, while 'state firmly' focuses on the strong way of saying something once.
declare
More formal and official; it does not always carry the idea of strong personal certainty.
assert
Similar, but often used in formal writing or when defending a claim.

Word family

firm adjective
Strong and not likely to change; solid.
firmly adverb
In a strong, definite way.

Commonly confused: state firmly or state strongly?

state firmly vs state strongly

Possible but less common; 'state firmly' is the usual collocation for a confident, unchangeable position.

Practice

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