befit

American

[bih-fit] / bɪˈfɪt /

verb (used with object)

to be proper or appropriate for; suit; fit.

His clothes befit the occasion.

befit British

/ bɪˈfɪt /

verb

(tr) to be appropriate to or suitable for

"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

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Etymology

Origin of befit

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at be-, fit ¹

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.

The glitzy Sphere suits Las Vegas; a new football arena along classical lines would befit Washington, which Frederick Douglass praised for “its lofty domes and stately pillars.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Loose curls stand atop his head, messy enough to be neat, neat enough to befit a titan of industry.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2024

The Richard Hugo House was born 25 years ago in a creaky Victorian house on Capitol Hill — humble beginnings that befit its namesake, the celebrated poet who came from a working-class background.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 8, 2023

Ralph Fiennes’ version befit a consummate actor who’d long cherished T.S.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2023

They were good boots, as befit one of Lord Tywin's men; heavy leather, oiled and supple, much finer than what Bronn was wearing.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

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