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Synonyms

fitting

American  
[fit-ing] / ˈfɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming.

    Synonyms:
    seemly, decorous, right, meet, fit

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that fits.

  2. an act or instance of trying on clothes that are being made or altered to determine proper fit.

  3. anything provided as equipment, parts, supply, etc.

  4. Usually fittings. furniture, fixtures, etc., as of a building or apartment.

fitting British  
/ ˈfɪtɪŋ /

adjective

  1. appropriate or proper; suitable

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an accessory or part

    an electrical fitting

  2. (plural) furnishings or accessories in a building

  3. work carried out by a fitter

  4. the act of trying on clothes so that they can be adjusted to fit

  5. size in clothes or shoes

    a narrow fitting
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • fittingly adverb
  • fittingness noun
  • self-fitting adjective
  • underfitting noun
  • unfitting adjective
  • unfittingly adverb
  • well-fitting adjective

Etymology

Origin of fitting

First recorded in 1525–35; fit 1 + -ing 2, -ing 1

Explanation

Something fitting is perfectly appropriate or proper — it's just right. When someone finds your beloved lost turtle, it's fitting to offer them a reward, or at least a sincere thanks. If your cousin loves ponies, a pony theme is a fitting choice for his birthday party. As a noun, fitting has a completely different meaning. A clothing fitting is the process of trying on an outfit to see how it fits. A hardware or plumbing fitting is one small piece that fits into a bigger system. The thing all of these definitions have in common is the root word fit.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So perhaps it’s somewhat fitting, if hardly ideal, that the uneven new Broadway revival of this masterwork, directed by Debbie Allen, takes its time to find its own sure footing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

From next year, he added, the company plans to begin fitting out German factories, particularly those in the automotive industry, a crucial sector for Europe's biggest economy.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Steve, how did you think about guitars fitting into a dance groove?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

It was only fitting that Kane scored on a historic afternoon in Munich on Sunday.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

One of the small ways Stanton showed solidarity with her feminist friends was to wear “bloomers,” the controversial new fashion, a below-the-knee skirt worn over loosely fitting pants.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.