fit - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

fit

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈfɪt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/fɪt/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(fit)

Inflections of 'fit' (adj):
fitter
adj comparative
fittest
adj superlative
Inflections of 'fit' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
fits
v 3rd person singular
fitting
v pres p
fitted
v past (US & UK)
fit
v past (US)
fitted
v past p (US & UK)
fit
v past p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024
fit1 /fɪt/USA pronunciation   adj., fit•ter, fit•test, v., fit•ted or fit, fit•ting, n. 
adj. 
  1. adapted or suited;
    suitable;
    appropriate: [~ + for][be + ~]The stormy night was not fit for man or beast.[~ + for + verb-ing]This water isn't fit for drinking.[~ + to + verb]water not fit to drink.
  2. proper or becoming:fit behavior.
  3. prepared or ready:crops fit for gathering.
  4. in good physical condition;
    in good health:She looked fit and trim.

v. 
  1. to be adapted to or suitable for (a purpose, object, occasion, etc.): [no object]The house fits nicely in that wooded area.[~ + object]Does a lunch at noontime fit your schedule?
  2. to be proper or becoming for:[~ + object]Let the punishment fit the crime.
  3. to be of the right size or shape (for): [~ + object]The dress fitted her perfectly.[no object]Nothing she tried on would fit.
  4. to make (something) be of the right size or shape:[~ + object]The tailor fitted the tuxedo on him.
  5. to make conform;
    adjust:[~ + object]The jeweler fitted the ring to her finger.
  6. to prepare;
    make ready:[~ + object]qualities that fit him for leadership.
  7. to put with precise placement or adjustment:[~ + object]I fitted the key into the lock.
  8. to furnish;
    equip:[~ + object]The car is fitted with air bags.
  9. fit out or up, [~ + out/up + object] to furnish with the necessary supplies;
    equip:They fitted out an expedition.

n. [countable]
  1. the manner, fact, or condition of fitting or of being fitted:The fit on the tuxedo was perfect. The coat is a poor fit.
Idioms
  1. Idioms, Informal Terms fit to be tied, extremely annoyed or angry.

fit•ly, adv. 
fit•ness, n. [uncountable]]
fit•ter, n. [countable]

fit2 /fɪt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Pathologya sudden acute attack of a disease, esp. one with convulsions or unconsciousness:a fit of epilepsy.
  2. an onset or period of emotion, inclination, activity, etc.:a fit of weeping.
Idioms
  1. Idioms by or in fits and starts, at irregular periods;
    starting and stopping;
    intermittently:We worked in fits and starts.
  2. Idioms throw a fit, to become extremely excited or angry.


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024
fit1  (fit),USA pronunciation adj., fit•ter, fit•test, v., fit•ted or fit, fit•ting, n. 
adj. 
  1. adapted or suited;
    appropriate:This water isn't fit for drinking. A long-necked giraffe is fit for browsing treetops.
  2. proper or becoming:fit behavior.
  3. qualified or competent, as for an office or function:a fit candidate.
  4. prepared or ready:crops fit for gathering.
  5. in good physical condition;
    in good health:He's fit for the race.
  6. Biology
    • being adapted to the prevailing conditions and producing offspring that survive to reproductive age.
    • contributing genetic information to the gene pool of the next generation.
    • (of a population) maintaining or increasing the group's numbers in the environment.
  7. fit to be tied, [Informal.]extremely annoyed or angry:He was fit to be tied when I told him I'd wrecked the car.
  8. Informal Terms fit to kill, to the limit;
    exceedingly:She was dressed up fit to kill.

v.t. 
  1. to be adapted to or suitable for (a purpose, object, occasion, etc.).
  2. to be proper or becoming for.
  3. to be of the right size or shape for:The dress fitted her perfectly.
  4. to adjust or make conform:to fit a ring to the finger.
  5. to make qualified or competent:qualities that fit one for leadership.
  6. to prepare:This school fits students for college.
  7. to put with precise placement or adjustment:He fitted the picture into the frame.
  8. to provide;
    furnish;
    equip:to fit a door with a new handle.

v.i. 
  1. to be suitable or proper.
  2. to be of the right size or shape, as a garment for the wearer or any object or part for a thing to which it is applied:The shoes fit.
  3. fit out or up, to furnish with supplies, equipment, clothing, furniture, or other requisites;
    supply;
    equip:to fit out an expedition.

n. 
  1. the manner in which a thing fits:The fit was perfect.
  2. something that fits:The coat is a poor fit.
  3. the process of fitting.
  • 1325–75; Middle English fitten; akin to Middle Dutch vitten to befit
fit′ta•ble, adj. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged suitable, apt, corresponding, meet, applicable, apropos.
    • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged fitting, befitting.
    • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged healthy, hale, hardy, strong, robust.
    Both fit and fitted are standard as past tense and past participle of fit1:The new door fit (or fitted) the old frame perfectly.The suit had fitted (or fit) well last year. Fitted is somewhat more common than fit in the sense "to adjust, make conform'':The tailor fitted the suit with a minimum of fuss.In the passive voice, fitted is the more common past participle:The door was fitted with a new handle.
fit2  (fit),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a sudden, acute attack or manifestation of a disease, esp. one marked by convulsions or unconsciousness:a fit of epilepsy.
  2. an onset, spell, or period of emotion, feeling, inclination, activity, etc.:a fit of anger; a fit of weeping.
  3. Idioms by or in fits and starts, at irregular intervals;
    intermittently:This radio works by fits and starts.
  4. Idioms throw a fit, to become extremely excited or angry:Your father will throw a fit when he hears what you have done.
  • bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English fitt round of fighting. See fit3

fit3  (fit),USA pronunciation n. [Archaic.]
  1. Literature, Music and Dancea song, ballad, or story.
  2. Literature, Music and Dancea division of a song, ballad, or story.
  • bef. 900; Middle English; Old English fitt round of singing, canto, song, speech

fit4  (fit),USA pronunciation v. [Nonstandard](chiefly older use).
  1. Slang Termspt. of fight. 

FIT, 
  1. [Banking.]Federal Insurance Tax.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
fit /fɪt/ vb (fits, fitting, fitted) ( US fit)
  1. to be appropriate or suitable for (a situation, etc)
  2. to be of the correct size or shape for (a connection, container, etc)
  3. (transitive) to adjust in order to render appropriate
  4. (transitive) to supply with that which is needed
  5. (transitive) to try clothes on (someone) in order to make adjustments if necessary
  6. (transitive) to make competent or ready
  7. (transitive) to locate with care
  8. (intransitive) to correspond with the facts or circumstances
 adj (fitter, fittest)
  1. suitable to a purpose or design; appropriate
  2. having the right qualifications; qualifying
  3. in good health
  4. worthy or deserving: a book fit to be read
  5. (followed by an infinitive) in such an extreme condition that a specified consequence is likely: she was fit to scream, you look fit to drop
 n
  1. the manner in which something fits
  2. the act or process of fitting
  3. the correspondence between observed and predicted characteristics of a distribution or model
    See goodness of fit
Etymology: 14th Century: probably from Middle Dutch vitten; related to Old Norse fitja to knit

ˈfittable adj
fit /fɪt/ n
  1. a sudden attack or convulsion, such as an epileptic seizure
  2. a sudden spell of emotion: a fit of anger
  3. an impulsive period of activity or lack of activity; mood: a fit of laziness
  4. give a person a fit ⇒ to surprise a person in an outrageous manner
  5. have a fit, throw a fit ⇒ informal to become very angry or excited
  6. in fits and starts, by fits and starts ⇒ in spasmodic spells; irregularly
Etymology: Old English fitt conflict; see fit³
'fit' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
A1 - Beltsville small white - E-FIT - able - able-bodied - absurd - accessorize - accommodate - adapt - adaptation - adaptive radiation - adequate - advisable - age - ague - alarm - anamorphic lens - apologetic - apparel - aquafitness - arm - armament - assemble - assort - athletic - aura - backfit - ball - bate - bear - becoming - bed - bed tray - befit - beseem - bite-size - blend - block - blow up - book tile - brace - brainstorm - breathable - breech - brush-on - bulldoze - bush - cadenza - cadre - cafeteria plan
Collocations: the [shirt, dress] doesn't fit me, [an epileptic, a coughing] fit, a fit [person, chick, guy, man, woman], more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "fit" in the title:


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