fix
/fɪks/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To repair something that is broken or not working. It can also mean to solve a problem.
- Can you fix my phone?
- We need to fix this issue today.
- The mechanic fixed the engine quickly.
- 2.
To decide something clearly, or arrange it for a later time.
- Let's fix a meeting for Tuesday.
- The date is fixed already.
- We fixed the details before lunch.
- 3.
To make something stay in one place, or make your attention stay on something.
- Fix the shelf to the wall.
- She fixed her eyes on the screen.
- Please fix your gaze on the board.
noun
A difficult situation that is hard to solve.
- He's in a real fix.
- That left us in a bad fix.
- We got out of the fix together.
Adinary Nuance
Fix is broader and more casual than repair. Use repair for careful work on machines, systems, or objects in formal writing; use fix for everyday speech and quick solutions. Solve is better when the problem is not physical, like a question or argument. Set can overlap with fix when you arrange a time or place.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sửa
- Spanish
- arreglar
- Chinese
- 修理
- Japanese
- 直す
- Korean
- 고치다
Etymology
Fix came into English in the 1500s from Latin fixus, meaning 'fastened' or 'made firm'. The original idea of making something firm still appears in modern uses.
Common phrases
fix a problemfix a datefix your eyes onin a fix
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is fix a formal word?
- It is common in speech and writing, but it sounds less formal than repair or resolve.
- What is the difference between fix and repair?
- Fix is wider and more everyday. Repair usually means making something broken work again.
- Can fix mean arrange?
- Yes. You can fix a meeting, a time, or a date.
- Is in a fix a common phrase?
- Yes. It means someone is in trouble or has a difficult problem.