fitting

[ fit-ing ]

/ ˈfɪt ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fitting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming.

noun

the act of a person or thing that fits.

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

anything provided as equipment, parts, supply, etc.

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

Nearby words

fitspiration, fitspo, fitted, fitten, fitter, fitting, fitting room, fittingly, fittipaldi, fittonia, fitz

Origin of fitting

First recorded in 1525–35; fit¹ + -ing², -ing¹

SYNONYMS FOR fitting

1 fit, meet, right, decorous, seemly.

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Related forms

fit·ting·ly, adverbfit·ting·ness, nounself-fit·ting, adjectiveun·der·fit·ting, noun

un·fit·ting, adjectiveun·fit·ting·ly, adverbwell-fit·ting, adjective

Definition for fitting (2 of 3)

fit

[ fit ]

/ fɪt /

adjective, fit·ter, fit·test.

adapted or suited; appropriate: This water isn't fit for drinking. A long-necked giraffe is fit for browsing treetops.

proper or becoming: fit behavior.

qualified or competent, as for an office or function: a fit candidate.

prepared or ready: crops fit for gathering.

in good physical condition; in good health: He's fit for the race.

Biology.

being adapted to the prevailing conditions and producing offspring that survive to reproductive age.
contributing genetic information to the gene pool of the next generation.
(of a population) maintaining or increasing the group's numbers in the environment.

verb (used with object), fit·ted or fit, fit·ting.

to be adapted to or suitable for (a purpose, object, occasion, etc.).

to be proper or becoming for.

to be of the right size or shape for: The dress fitted her perfectly.

to adjust or make conform: to fit a ring to the finger.

to make qualified or competent: qualities that fit one for leadership.

to prepare: This school fits students for college.

to put with precise placement or adjustment: He fitted the picture into the frame.

to provide; furnish; equip: to fit a door with a new handle.

verb (used without object), fit·ted or fit, fit·ting.

to be suitable or proper.

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

the manner in which a thing fits: The fit was perfect.

something that fits: The coat is a poor fit.

the process of fitting.

Verb Phrases

fit out/up, to furnish with supplies, equipment, clothing, furniture, or other requisites; supply; equip: to fit out an expedition.

Origin of fit

1325–75; Middle English fitten; akin to Middle Dutch vitten to befit

SYNONYMS FOR fit

1 suitable, apt, corresponding, meet, applicable, apropos.

2 fitting, befitting.

5 healthy, hale, hardy, strong, robust.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fit ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsfit·ta·ble, adjectiveun·fit·ta·ble, adjective

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.

Definition for fitting (3 of 3)

fit

⁴

[ fit ]

/ fɪt /

verb Nonstandard (chiefly Older Use ).

simple past tense of fight.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fitting

It was the epitome of Kim Kardashian, and a fitting summation of the Year of Butt.
Year of the Butt: How the Booty Changed the World in 2014|Kevin Fallon|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Induction would be a fitting gesture, even now when the honor would be posthumous.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How fitting that Joe Cocker would get a little help from his friend Billy Joel.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Garfield moved to the big screen in 2004 and 2006, it was fitting for Bill Murray to replace the deceased actor.
Garfield Television: The Cat Who Saved Primetime Cartoons|Rich Goldstein|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It would be only fitting, the reductio ad absurdum of our divided age, for this election to take two extra months.
How This Election Could Go to January|Michael Tomasky|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is removed and allowed to set, thus giving a paper shell just fitting the mandrel.
Pottery, for Artists Craftsmen & Teachers|George J. Cox
She wanted a touch at which she need not shudder, and surely it was fitting that some one should kiss her on her wedding-day.
Moor Fires|E. H. (Emily Hilda) Young
During its progress I have tried to make a fitting return for it to the Royal Institution, and through it to science.
Michael Faraday|J. H. Gladstone
Montmorency's death was the fitting sequel of a holy and useful life.
The Catholic World. Volume II; Numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.|E. Rameur
They are fitting the new generation of Indians for a life of usefulness.
The Washington Historical Quarterly, Volume V, 1914|Various

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (1 of 4)

fitting

/ (ˈfɪtɪŋ) /

adjective

appropriate or proper; suitable

noun

an accessory or partan electrical fitting

(plural) furnishings or accessories in a building

work carried out by a fitter

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

British size in clothes or shoesa narrow fitting

Derived Formsfittingly, adverbfittingness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (2 of 4)

fit

/ (fɪt) /

verb fits, fitting or fitted or US fit

to be appropriate or suitable for (a situation, etc)

to be of the correct size or shape for (a connection, container, etc)

(tr) to adjust in order to render appropriatethey had to fit the idea to their philosophy

(tr) to supply with that which is needed

(tr) to try clothes on (someone) in order to make adjustments if necessary

(tr) to make competent or readythe experience helped to fit him for the task

(tr) to locate with care

(intr) to correspond with the facts or circumstances

adjective fitter or fittest

suitable to a purpose or design; appropriate

having the right qualifications; qualifying

in good health

worthy or deservinga book fit to be read

(foll by an infinitive) in such an extreme condition that a specified consequence is likelyshe was fit to scream; you look fit to drop

mainly British informal (of a person) sexually attractive

noun

the manner in which something fits

the act or process of fitting

statistics the correspondence between observed and predicted characteristics of a distribution or modelSee goodness of fit

Word Origin for fit

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

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (3 of 4)

fit

/ (fɪt) /

noun

pathol a sudden attack or convulsion, such as an epileptic seizure

a sudden spell of emotiona fit of anger

an impulsive period of activity or lack of activity; mooda fit of laziness

give a person a fit to surprise a person in an outrageous manner

have a fit or throw a fit informal to become very angry or excited

in fits and starts or by fits and starts in spasmodic spells; irregularly

verb fits, fitting or fitted

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

Word Origin for fit

Old English fitt conflict; see fit ³

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (4 of 4)

fit

/ (fɪt) /

noun

archaic a story or song or a section of a story or song

Word Origin for fit

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

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

Word Origin and History for fitting (1 of 6)

fitting

1530s (adj.); c.1600 (n.), from present participle of fit (v.).

Word Origin and History for fitting (1 of 6)

fit

"be suitable," probably from early 15c.; "to be the right shape," 1580s, from fit (adj.). Related: Fitted; fitting. Fitted sheets is attested from 1963.

Word Origin and History for fitting (2 of 6)

fit

n.3

part of a poem, Old English fitt, of unknown origin.

Word Origin and History for fitting (3 of 6)

fit

n.1

1823, "the fitting of one thing to another," later (1831) "the way something fits." Originally "an adversary of equal power" (mid-13c.), obscure, possibly from Old English fitt "a conflict, a struggle" (see fit (n.2)).

Word Origin and History for fitting (4 of 6)

fit

n.2

"paroxysm, sudden attack" (as of anger), 1540s, probably via Middle English sense of "painful, exciting experience" (early 14c.), from Old English fitt "conflict, struggle," of uncertain origin, with no clear cognates outside English. Perhaps ultimately cognate with fit (n.1) on notion of "to meet." Phrase by fits and starts first attested 1610s.

Word Origin and History for fitting (5 of 6)

fit

adj.

"suited to the circumstances, proper," mid-15c., of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle English noun fit "an adversary of equal power" (mid-13c.), which is perhaps connected to fit (n.1). Related: Fitter; fittest. Survival of the fittest (1867) coined by H. Spencer.

Idioms and Phrases with fitting

fit

In addition to the idioms beginning with fit

fit as a fiddle
fit in
fit like a glove
fit out
fits and starts, by
fit to be tied
fit to kill

also see:

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

fitting

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of fitting

Definition for fitting (2 of 3)

fit

adjective, fit·ter, fit·test.

verb (used with object), fit·ted or fit, fit·ting.

verb (used without object), fit·ted or fit, fit·ting.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of fit

Usage note

Definition for fitting (3 of 3)

fit

verb Nonstandard (chiefly Older Use ).

Examples from the Web for fitting

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (1 of 4)

fitting

adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (2 of 4)

fit

verb fits, fitting or fitted or US fit

adjective fitter or fittest

noun

Word Origin for fit

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (3 of 4)

fit

noun

verb fits, fitting or fitted

Word Origin for fit

British Dictionary definitions for fitting (4 of 4)

fit

noun

Word Origin for fit

Word Origin and History for fitting (1 of 6)

fitting

Word Origin and History for fitting (1 of 6)

fit

Word Origin and History for fitting (2 of 6)

fit

Word Origin and History for fitting (3 of 6)

fit

Word Origin and History for fitting (4 of 6)

fit

Word Origin and History for fitting (5 of 6)

fit

Idioms and Phrases with fitting

fit