Definition of 'fit'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense fits
, present participle fitting
, past tense, past participle fitted
language note: In American English the form fit is used in the present tense and sometimes also as the past tense and past participle
of the verb.
1. verb
If something fits, it is the right size and shape to go onto a person's body or onto a particular object.
She has to go to the men's department to find trousers that fit at the waist. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Line a tin with lightly-greased greaseproof paper, making sure the corners fit well. [VERB preposition/adverb]
2. singular noun [adjective NOUN]
3. verb [usually passive]
If you are fitted for a particular piece of clothing, you try it on so that the person who is making it
can see where it needs to be altered.
5. verb
If you fit something into a particular space or place, you put it there.
When the crown has been made you go back and the dentist will fit it into place. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
6. verb
If you fit something somewhere, you attach it there, or put it there carefully and securely.
Peter had built the overhead ladders, and the next day he fitted them to the wall. [VERB noun preposition]
Home spas or mini whirlpools massage and relax, and can be fitted into the bath. [VERB noun preposition]
7. verb
If something fits something else or fits into it, it goes together well with that thing or is able to be part of it.
Fostering is a full-time job and you should consider how it will fit into your career. [V + in/into]
8. verb
You can say that something fits a particular person or thing when it is appropriate or suitable for them or it.
9. adjective [ADJECTIVE to-infinitive, ADJ n to-inf]
If something is fit for a particular purpose, it is suitable for that purpose.
10. adjective [oft ADJECTIVE to-infinitive, ADJ n to-inf]
If someone is fit to do something, they have the appropriate qualities or skills that will allow them
to do it.
[Also + for] 11. verb
If something fits someone for a particular task or role, it makes them good enough or suitable for
it.
[formal]
12. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE to-infinitive]
If you say that something or someone is fit to produce some extreme result, you are emphasizing the extreme nature of that thing or that person's activity.
[informal, emphasis]
13.
See to see fit
15. fit the bill
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: comparative fitter
, superlative fittest
1. adjective
Someone who is fit is healthy and physically strong.
2. adjective
4. fighting fit
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: plural fits
1. countable noun
If someone has a fit they suddenly lose consciousness and their body makes uncontrollable movements.
2. countable noun
3. countable noun
4.
See have a fit
5.
See in fits
6.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
fit
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Word Frequency
fit in British English 1
verbWord forms: 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)
they had to fit the idea to their philosophy
4. (transitive)
to supply with that which is needed
7. (transitive)
to locate with care
adjectiveWord forms: fitter, fittest
9.
suitable to a purpose or design; appropriate
10.
having the right qualifications; qualifying
11.
in good health
13. (foll by an infinitive)
in such an extreme condition that a specified consequence is likely
she was fit to scream
you look fit to drop
noun
15.
the manner in which something fits
16.
the act or process of fitting
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
fittable (ˈfittable) adjective
Word origin
C14: probably from Middle Dutch vitten; related to Old Norse fitja to knit
Word Frequency
fit in British English 2
verbWord forms: fits, fitting, fitted
7. (intransitive) informal
to have a sudden attack or convulsion, such as an epileptic seizure
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English fitt conflict; see fit3Word Frequency
fit in American English 1
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈfitted or fit, ˈfitting
2.
to be the proper size, shape, etc. for
3.
a.
to make or alter so as to fit
4.
to make suitable or qualified
his training fits him for the job
5.
b.
to make a place for
with in or into to fit another passenger into the crowded car
verb intransitive
7. Archaic
to be suitable or proper
9.
to have the proper size or shape for a particular figure, space, etc.
his coat fits well; this won't fit into the box
adjectiveWord forms: ˈfitter or ˈfittest
10.
adapted, adjusted, qualified, or suited to some purpose, function, situation, etc.
food fit to eat
11.
proper; right; appropriate
12.
in good physical condition; healthy
noun
14.
the condition of fitting or being fitted
15.
the manner or degree of fitting or of fitting together
a good fit, a tight fit
16.
anything that fits
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: fit1, the broadest term here, means having the qualities or qualifications to meet some
condition, circumstance, purpose, or demand [fit for a king]; suitable is applied to that which accords with the requirements or needs of the occasion or
circumstances [shoes suitable for hiking]; proper implies reference to that which naturally or rightfully belongs to something or suggests
a fitness or suitability dictated by good judgment [proper respect for one's elders]; that is appropriate which is especially or distinctively fit or suitable; , fitting is applied to that which accords harmoniously with the character, spirit, or tone
of something; , apt1, in this connection, is used of that which is exactly suited to the purpose [an apt phrase]Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME fitten < ? or akin ? to ON fitja, to knit, tie ends of thread, akin to OHG fizza, skein of thread, ult. < IE *pedyo-, fetter, lit., of the foot < base *ped-, footWord Frequency
fit in American English 2
noun
3.
a temporary burst of activity
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME < OE (rare) fitt, conflict
Word Frequency
fit in American English 3
noun
Obsolete
a section of a poem, ballad, or song
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME fitte < OE fitt, akin to OS (Latinized) pl. vitteas, sections of a poem (the Heliand), OHG fizza: see fit1Word Frequency
fit in American English 1
(fɪt) (adjective fitter, fittest, verb fitted or fit, fitting)
adjective
1.
adapted or suited; appropriate
This water isn't fit for drinking
A long-necked giraffe is fit for browsing treetops
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
a.
b.
c. (of a population)
maintaining or increasing the group's numbers in the environment
7. See fit to be tied
8. See fit to kill
transitive verb
9.
to be adapted to or suitable for (a purpose, object, occasion, etc.)
10.
to be proper or becoming for
11.
to be of the right size or shape for
The dress fitted her perfectly
13.
to make qualified or competent
qualities that fit one for leadership
14.
to prepare
This school fits students for college
intransitive verb
17.
to be suitable or proper
18.
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
19. See fit out
noun
SYNONYMS 1. suitable, apt, corresponding, meet, applicable, apropos. 2. fitting, befitting. 5. healthy, hale, hardy, strong, robust.USAGE 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. 20.
the manner in which a thing fits
The fit was perfect
21.
something that fits
The coat is a poor fit
22.
the process of fitting
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
fittable adjective
Word origin
[1325–75; ME fitten; akin to MD vitten to befit]Word Frequency
fit in American English 2
(fɪt)
noun
1.
a sudden, acute attack or manifestation of a disease, esp. one marked by convulsions or unconsciousness
a fit of epilepsy
3. See by fits and starts
4. See throw a fit
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
fit in American English 3
(fɪt)
noun archaic
1.
a song, ballad, or story
2.
a division of a song, ballad, or story
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME; OE fitt round of singing, canto, song, speech]Word Frequency
fit in American English 4
(fɪt)
verb
not standard, chiefly old-fashioned pt. of fight
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word Frequency
FIT in American English
abbreviation
federal income tax
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Examples of 'fit' in a sentence
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In other languages
fit
British English: fit
/fɪt/ ADJECTIVE
If something is fit for a particular purpose, it is suitable for that purpose.
Only two of the seven bicycles were fit for the road.
- American English: fit /ˈfɪt/
- Arabic: صَالِح
- Brazilian Portuguese: em boa forma
- Chinese: 合适的
- Croatian: podesan
- Czech: vhodný
- Danish: egnet
- Dutch: geschikt
- European Spanish: adecuado
- Finnish: sopiva
- French: adapté
- German: gesund
- Greek: κατάλληλος
- Italian: adatto
- Japanese: 適した
- Korean: 알맞은
- Norwegian: egnet
- Polish: odpowiedni
- European Portuguese: em boa forma
- Romanian: potrivit
- Russian: подходящий
- Latin American Spanish: apto
- Swedish: i god form
- Thai: เหมาะ
- Turkish: uygun
- Ukrainian: придатний
- Vietnamese: phù hợp
British English: fit
/fɪt/ NOUN
If something is a good fit, it fits well.
Eventually he was happy that the doors were a good fit.
- American English: fit /ˈfɪt/
- Arabic: مِقْياس
- Brazilian Portuguese: encaixamento
- Chinese: 适合
- Croatian: pristajanje
- Czech: střih oděv
- Danish: passer godt
- Dutch: passend
- European Spanish: quedar bien acceso
- Finnish: sopivuus
- French: être à la bonne taille
- German: Anfall Anfälle
- Greek: ταίριασμα
- Italian: misura
- Japanese: 発作
- Korean: 어울림
- Norwegian: anfall
- Polish: dopasowywanie
- European Portuguese: convulsão
- Romanian: ceva care se potrivește
- Russian: пригонка
- Latin American Spanish: ajuste
- Swedish: anfall utbrott
- Thai: ความพอดี
- Turkish: uyma
- Ukrainian: підходити
- Vietnamese: sự vừa vặn
British English: fit
/fɪt/ VERB
If something fits you, it is the right size and shape for you.
These shoes don't fit me.
- American English: fit /ˈfɪt/
- Arabic: يُناسِبُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: servir
- Chinese: 合适
- Croatian: pristajati
- Czech: pasovat oděv
- Danish: passe
- Dutch: passen
- European Spanish: quedar bien
- Finnish: sopia
- French: convenir
- German: passen
- Greek: ταιριάζω
- Italian: stare bene
- Japanese: 適する
- Korean: 맞다
- Norwegian: passe (for)
- Polish: dostosować
- European Portuguese: servir
- Romanian: a-i venidespre Haine
- Russian: быть впору
- Latin American Spanish: encajar
- Swedish: passa vara av rätt storlek
- Thai: พอดีกับ
- Turkish: uydurmak
- Ukrainian: пасувати
- Vietnamese: vừa
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Definition of fit from the Collins English Dictionary
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