fit

¹

[ fit ]

adjective

, fit·ter, fit·test.

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)

, fit·ted or fit, fit·ting.

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)

, fit·ted or fit, fit·ting.

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. 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 /

noun

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

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. give a person a fit
   to surprise a person in an outrageous manner
5. have a fit or throw a fit informal.
   to become very angry or excited
6. in fits and starts or by fits and starts
   in spasmodic spells; irregularly

verb

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

fit

³

/ 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

   you look fit to drop

   she was fit to scream

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

Usage Note

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈfittable, adjective

Other Words From

• fit·ta·ble adjective
• un·fit·ta·ble 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

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

Origin of fit²

Old English fitt conflict; see fit ³

Origin of fit³

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   This radio works by fits and starts.

2. fit to be tied, Informal. extremely annoyed or angry:

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

3. fit to kill, Informal. to the limit; exceedingly:

   She was dressed up fit to kill.

4. throw a fit, to become extremely excited or angry:

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

5. fit the bill. bill ¹( def 16 ):

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

Even with some type of disaster relief, Bell said loss of land, crops and infrastructure, such as sprinkler heads, valves, pipe fittings and hoses, can set a farmer back about six years or more.

From Los Angeles Times

British Gas previously told the BBC it does not excuse the force fitting, which was done by a contractor, and that the customer chased over an incorrect bill will not be required to pay it.

From BBC

At the time he said it was a “significantly smaller cost” as they had removed much of the “fit out”.

From BBC

The jury seemed to think the shoe fit, taking around 40 minutes to come back with its verdict: Guilty on all counts.

From Los Angeles Times

Adjustments to anti-seizure medication have minimised the frequency and severity of any fits.

From BBC

Related Words

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