fit

¹

[fit]

adjective

fitter, fittest 

1. adapted or suited; appropriate.

   This water isn't fit for drinking.

   A long-necked giraffe is fit for browsing treetops.

   Synonyms: apropos, applicable, meet, proper, apt, suitable

2. proper or becoming.

   This is not fit behavior for a funeral service.

   Synonyms: befitting, fitting

3. qualified or competent, as for an office or function.

   It took several interviews to find a fit candidate for the position.

4. prepared or ready.

   Constant updating of methods and equipment will ensure that we're fit for the future.

5. in good physical condition; in good health.

   He's fit for the race.

   Synonyms: robust, strong, hardy, hale, healthy

6. Biology.

   1. being adapted to the prevailing conditions and producing offspring that survive to reproductive age.

   2. contributing genetic information to the gene pool of the next generation.

   3. (of a population) maintaining or increasing the group's numbers in the environment.

verb (used with object)

fitted, fit, fitting. 

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.

   She had the jeweler fit the ring to her finger.

5. to make qualified or competent.

   Courage and patience are among the qualities that fit a person 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.

   I fitted the cabinet door with a new handle.

9. Statistics.,  to predict, calculate, or project (values) according to a model based on existing data.

verb (used without object)

fitted, fit, fitting. 

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.

noun

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.

verb phrase

1. fit out / up,  to furnish with supplies, equipment, clothing, furniture, or other requisites; supply; equip.

   In Kathmandu they found a supplier to fit out the trekking expedition.

fit

²

[fit]

noun

1. a sudden, acute attack or manifestation of a disease, especially 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.

fit

³

[fit]

noun

Archaic.

1. a song, ballad, or story.

2. a division of a song, ballad, or story.

fit

⁴

[fit]

verb

Nonstandard (chiefly Older Use).

1. simple past tense of fight.

FIT

⁵

1. Banking.,  Federal Insurance Tax.

fit

¹

/ fɪt /

verb

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. (tr) to adjust in order to render appropriate

   they had to fit the idea to their philosophy

4. (tr) to supply with that which is needed

5. (tr) to try clothes on (someone) in order to make adjustments if necessary

6. (tr) to make competent or ready

   the experience helped to fit him for the task

7. (tr) to locate with care

8. (intr) to correspond with the facts or circumstances

adjective

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. (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

6. informal,  (of a person) sexually attractive

noun

1. the manner in which something fits

2. the act or process of fitting

3. statistics the correspondence between observed and predicted characteristics of a distribution or model See goodness of fit

fit

²

/ fɪt /

noun

1. pathol 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. to surprise a person in an outrageous manner

5. informal,  to become very angry or excited

6. in spasmodic spells; irregularly

verb

1. informal,  (intr) to have a sudden attack or convulsion, such as an epileptic seizure

fit

³

/ fɪt /

noun

1. archaic,  a story or song or a section of a story or song

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.

Other Word Forms

• fittable adjective
• unfittable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fit¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English fitten, fetten “to marshal or deploy troops; to be fitting, befit;” possibly from Old Norse fitja “to web, knit;” akin to Middle Dutch vitten “to befit”

Origin of fit²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fitt “round of fighting”; fit ³

Origin of fit³

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English fitt “round of singing, canto, song, speech”

Origin of fit⁴

First recorded in 1805–10

Word History and Origins

Origin of fit¹

C14: probably from Middle Dutch vitten ; related to Old Norse fitja to knit

Origin of fit²

Old English fitt conflict; see _fit ³

Origin of fit³

Old English fitt ; related to Old Norse fit hem, Old High German fizza yarn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. fit the bill. bill.

2. fit to kill, to the limit; exceedingly.

   She was dressed up fit to kill.

3. fit to be tied, extremely annoyed or angry.

   He was fit to be tied when I told him I'd wrecked the car.

4. by / in fits and starts, at irregular intervals; intermittently.

   This radio works by fits and starts.

5. throw a fit, to become extremely excited or angry.

   Your father will throw a fit when he hears what you have done.

More idioms and phrases containing fit

• give someone fits
• have a fit
• if the shoe fits
• see fit to
• survival of the fittest

Example Sentences

It was fitting that he was rescued by Boy Scouts in the mountains so close to home.

From Los Angeles Times

Hailing from small-town Australia, he became bored with censoring his work for family papers and cartooning about the weather, seeking something bigger to fit his burgeoning punk sensibilities.

From Salon

But he can also be as calm and understanding as a high school counselor, making him a good fit for one of the youngest rosters in the major leagues.

From Los Angeles Times

The cherished 1939 fantasy has been expanded by generative AI to fit the giant parameters of the Las Vegas immersive venue.

From Los Angeles Times

"You see a massive difference. Even when they come in and have a fitting for the first time, you see them smiling."

From BBC

Related Words

• able 
• apt 
• capable 
• competent 
• happy 
• prepared 
• qualified 
• wise