Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for fitting on Thesaurus.com suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming. Show More
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. Show More
Related forms fit·ting·ly , adverb fit·ting·ness , noun self-fit·ting , adjective un·der·fit·ting , noun un·fit·ting , adjective un·fit·ting·ly , adverb well-fit·ting , adjective 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. Show More
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. Show More
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. Show More
the manner in which a thing fits: The fit was perfect. something that fits: The coat is a poor fit. the process of fitting. Show More
fit out /up , to furnish with supplies, equipment, clothing, furniture, or other requisites; supply; equip: to fit out an expedition. Show More
fit to be tied , Informal extremely annoyed or angry: He was fit to be tied when I told him I'd wrecked the car. fit to kill , Informal to the limit; exceedingly: She was dressed up fit to kill. Show More
Origin of fit 1 1325–75; Middle English fitten; akin to Middle Dutch vitten to befit
Related forms fit·ta·ble , adjective un·fit·ta·ble , adjective Synonyms for fit See more synonyms for 1 .
suitable ,
apt ,
corresponding ,
meet ,
applicable ,
apropos .
2 .
fitting ,
befitting .
5 .
healthy ,
hale ,
hardy ,
strong ,
robust .
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.
verb Nonstandard (chiefly Older Use ) simple past tense of fight . Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for fitting proper ,
apt ,
felicitous ,
furniture ,
meet ,
becoming ,
right ,
correct ,
due ,
extra ,
accouterment ,
appointment ,
equipment ,
attachment ,
paraphernalia ,
component ,
convenience ,
instrument ,
connection ,
part Examples from the Web for fitting Contemporary Examples of fitting It was the epitome of Kim Kardashian, and a fitting summation of the Year of Butt.
Induction would be a fitting gesture, even now when the honor would be posthumous.
How fitting that Joe Cocker would get a little help from his friend Billy Joel.
When Garfield moved to the big screen in 2004 and 2006, it was fitting for Bill Murray to replace the deceased actor.
It would be only fitting , the reductio ad absurdum of our divided age, for this election to take two extra months.
Historical Examples of fitting But there was an outcry, as there has been at every fitting , because I won't wear stays.
He ought to say something about the man, but he had no idea of what was fitting !
It is not fitting for Christians to hold a festival in honor of a heathen god.
But he only moved back a little, and went on fitting and musing.
"I try to be what's fitting ," said Mrs. James, complacently.
British Dictionary definitions for fitting appropriate or proper; suitable Show More
an accessory or part an 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 shoes a narrow fitting Show More
Derived Forms fittingly , adverb fittingness , noun 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 appropriate they 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 ready the experience helped to fit him for the task (tr) to locate with care (intr) to correspond with the facts or circumstances Show More
adjective fitter or fittest suitable to a purpose or design; appropriate having the right qualifications; qualifying in good health worthy or deserving a book fit to be read (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 mainly British informal (of a person) sexually attractive Show More
the manner in which something fits the act or process of fitting statistics the correspondence between observed and predicted characteristics of a distribution or model See goodness of fit Show More
Derived Forms fittable , adjective Word Origin for fit C14: probably from Middle Dutch vitten ; related to Old Norse fitja to knit
pathol a sudden attack or convulsion, such as an epileptic seizure a sudden spell of emotion a fit of anger an impulsive period of activity or lack of activity; mood a 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 Show More
verb fits , fitting or fitted (intr) informal to have a sudden attack or convulsion, such as an epileptic seizure Show More
Word Origin for fit Old English fitt conflict; see fit ³
archaic a story or song or a section of a story or song Show More
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 1530s (adj.); c.1600 (n.), from present participle of fit (v.).
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v. "be suitable," probably from early 15c.; "to be the right shape," 1580s, from fit (adj.). Related: Fitted ; fitting . Fitted sheets is attested from 1963.
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n.3 part of a poem, Old English fitt , of unknown origin.
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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)).
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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.
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with fitting 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 Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
