Word
firmness
Phoneticsfirm·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɝmnəs/
UK/fˈɜːmnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the quality of being solid and hard, or the quality of being strong and not easily changed. You use this to describe how a mattress feels or how a person stands up for their beliefs.
n. the quality of being solid, hard, or resistant to pressure; also refers to the quality of being resolute or determined in one's actions or beliefs.
Examples
“The mattress has a perfect level of firmness for my back.”
“The manager's firmness in refusing the request showed that the company's new safety rules were not to be ignored.”
“While the physical firmness of the leather was a testament to its quality, it was the director's moral firmness that truly defined the success of the project.”
Examples
simple
“The mattress has a perfect level of firmness for my back.”
contextual
“The manager's firmness in refusing the request showed that the company's new safety rules were not to be ignored.”
complex
“While the physical firmness of the leather was a testament to its quality, it was the director's moral firmness that truly defined the success of the project.”
Etymology
From firm + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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