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• fit
  fit

  adjective

  adapted or suited; appropriate.
• FIT
  FIT

  Federal Insurance Tax.

fit

¹ American  

[fit] / fɪt /

adjective

• fitter,
  comparative
• fittest
  superlative

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.

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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.

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.

fit ² American  

[fit] / fɪt /

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.

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idioms

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

   This radio works by fits and starts.

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

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

fit ³ American  

[fit] / fɪt /

noun

Archaic.

1. a song, ballad, or story.

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

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fit ⁴ American  

[fit] / fɪt /

verb

Nonstandard (chiefly Older Use).

1. simple past tense of fight.

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FIT ⁵ American  

1. Banking. Federal Insurance Tax.

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fit ¹ British  

/ 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

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

fit ³ British  

/ fɪt /

noun

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

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fit More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing fit

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

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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

Derived Forms

• fittable
  adjective
• unfittable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• fitter
  comparative
• fittest
  superlative

Etymology

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”; see 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

Explanation

"Don't have a fit about it!" someone might snap at you. Chances are you're making a fuss and acting out, characteristics that precisely fit or match what having a fit involves. Chill out. When something fits like a glove, it fits just right. When you put a glove on, you fit each finger into its place. The word fit can mean "matching the shape of something" or "being a good match," like two people who meet online and turn out to be a good fit for one another. But its definitions are not always so rosy. If you're really angry and find yourself throwing a tantrum, you're having a fit.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fit FIT fitter fittest fitted fitting

Venice's focus this year on mostly small, art-house films appears to fit the bill for Susan Sarandon, who is appearing in the Italian film "The Echo Chamber" from director Andrea Pallaoro.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Although aged 40, he has not announced his retirement while some reports suggest he still feels fit enough to compete at a high level.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

Santa Monica, home to one of the most famous stretches of sand on the planet and plenty of music history, would seem a natural fit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

The luxury lanes of London have a pesky problem: foreign supercars that park where they see fit, racking up tickets the drivers don’t pay.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

But the hunks of mushroom were smashed and disjointed, a puzzle of pieces that no longer fit.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

For the first semester of its program, which concluded in December, FIT received more than 190 applications for 15 spots.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

However, a connection with components relevant for nutritional physiology like FIT was not previously known to exist.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 23, 2024

The report highlights the importance of screening, in particular access to the new FIT test for bowel screening.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2023

Earlier this year, the Museum at FIT celebrated hip-hop fashion with an exhibition titled "Fresh, Fly and Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style."

From Reuters ● Sep. 5, 2023

Make the public-house FIT for women and children.

From The New Machiavelli by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

The people included in the study may have been healthier and fitter than the general population.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

A fitter by profession, Chaurasia had left home around eight months ago to work for a foreign shipping company.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

While Knight played a series of sweeps and reverses, Capsey, who looks fitter and more composed in 2026, targeted the straight boundaries with power.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

Trump often boasts about his health, saying that he is far fitter than previous presidents despite his weight and a love of fast food.

From Barron's ● May 26, 2026

One day she relented, and we set forth from the castle in a fitter enclosed by curtains and borne by servants.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Novak did what Novak does - finding a way to beat one of the fittest, most athletic younger guys at the age of 39.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

In the meantime, it will be survival of the fittest drivers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026

"Given what I went through, it's wild that it's the only thing I'm left with. I'm the healthiest and fittest I've ever been," she says.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026

New CEO Greg Abel might favor survival of the fittest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026

“Um, with polar bears, it’s not survival of the fittest but survival of the fattest,” Owen told him.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

By the late 1970s, one in two Greenlandic women of childbearing age -- at least 4,070 women -- had been fitted with an IUD, according to an investigation presented in September 2025.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

An investigation found that Boeing had improperly fitted the outsourced fuselage and door plug parts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

After multiple surgeries, Macs' Berlin Heart was fitted on 7 August after leaving Bristol for Newcastle.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

Sue Smith: The way Bruno played in the Community Shield, it felt like he's fitted in already.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Some roofs were fitted with new chimneys or water towers, while other structures had fallen into further ruin.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Ms. Indiana’s descriptions are clipped and sardonic, fitting for the perspective of a demon who has seen every vice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it’s fitting that our favorite daughter, Dolly Parton, is honored for her extraordinary life and legacy,” Lee said.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

Individually, they are stylists with distinct musical personalities, but they are exceptionally practiced in fitting in not only with each other but also with the orchestra at large.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

It was on one of these walks that he fell unconscious and started fitting in the road.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Likewise, as the kingdom of the Sultan lies entirely in the hands of the soldiers, it is fitting that he too should maintain them as his allies, without considering the people.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

Related Words

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