Jump To:

• 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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

fit ⁴ American  

[fit] / fɪt /

verb

Nonstandard (chiefly Older Use).

1. simple past tense of fight.

---

FIT ⁵ American  

1. Banking. Federal Insurance Tax.

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

Last month, an interim report was published by Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms, who has been leading a review into Pip, stating the benefit was "not fit for purpose" and requires a fundamental change.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

On that score, the Lakers fit the bill.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

You can simply place him toward the more casual end of the relationship spectrum and fit him into your life when it makes sense.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

The findings showed that people have a strong tendency to repeat decisions they have made before, even when those earlier choices may no longer be the best fit for the current situation.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

“Hey! Sorry to bring you here, but it was the only time I could fit you in. I have practice the rest of the week,” he explains.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

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

The biologists found that FIT specifically accumulates in condensates within the cell nucleus when the plant cells have been exposed to blue light.

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

But he insists he feels fitter than ever and he dreams of "living to 120."

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

Plus, it’s a measure of progress—the fitter I get, the easier my heart works.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026

Thanks to advances in science and medicine, Americans are living longer, fitter lives.

From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026

Almost an hour had passed before the fitter swayed to a stop.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Riglar added: "She was one of the fittest players on the team anyway."

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

"The process is just a little bit survival of the fittest," Highton says.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

This is Hyrox, the fitness competition that is rivaling triathlons and obstacle-course races to become the exercise challenge all the fittest people you know are signing up for.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

New CEO Greg Abel might favor survival of the fittest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026

So I kept reading about shark embryos that snack on their lesser sisters and eventually devour other siblings in the womb until the fittest shark remains and the mother gives birth to only one baby.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

When you first step into South Hall, to your immediate right is “the bubble”—a barred enclosure fitted with chairs, a desk, a telephone, and a microwave.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

At this moment, nearly every form of software and hardware comes fitted with an AI component.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Before being released the birds were fitted with satellite trackers so their progress can be monitored by the project team.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

With natural gas accounting for 12% of German power generation, and with half of German homes fitted with gas boilers, German households are also being affected.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

She drew on her long white gloves, fitted each finger, and reached for her evening bag.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

The comparison is fitting because granulation is produced by moving plasma.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

The site is fitting, since John and Abigail were the White House’s first residents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Lhuillier posted some clips from the Vogue fitting on social media and wrote that designing Roberts’ gown was about capturing a feeling of timeless romance through a modern lens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

This is Brontë country, after all, so it's fitting that it's also perfect Brontë weather.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 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

Related Words

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