Fit

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fɪt/
• Rhymes: -ɪt

Possibly from the Middle English fit ("an adversary of equal power").

Full definition of fit

Adjective

1. Suitable, proper.You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit.
• Bible, Job xxxiv. 18Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked?
• 2005, Lesley Brown, Sophist, The rest we'll leave to be examined later, if we think fit;
2. Adapted to a purpose or environment.survival of the fittest
• ShakespeareThat which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in.
3. In good shape; physically well.You don't have to be a good climber for Kilimanjaro, but you do have to be fit.
4. (British, slang) Good looking, fanciable, attractive, beautiful.I think the girl working in the office is fit.
5. Prepared; ready.
• FairfaxSo fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel.

Derived terms

From the adjective fit ("suitable").

Verb

1. (transitive) To be suitable for.It fits the purpose.
• 1918, Richard Dennis Teall Hollister, Speech-making, publ. George Wahr, pg. 81:The speaker should be certain that his subject fits the occasion.
2. (transitive) To conform to in size and shape.The small shirt doesn't fit me, so I'll buy the medium size.If I lose a few kilos, the gorgeous wedding dress might fit me.
3. (intransitive) To be of the right size and shape, as of clothing.I wanted to borrow my little sister's jeans, but they didn't fit.
4. (transitive, with to) To make conform in size and shape.I want to fit the drapes to the windows.
1. (transitive) To tailor; to change to the appropriate size.I had a suit fitted by the tailor.
5. (transitive) To be in agreement with.These definitions fit most of the usage.
6. (transitive) To adjust.The regression program fit a line to the data.
7. (transitive) To attach, especially when requiring exact positioning or sizing.
• 2012, May 13, Andrew Benson, Williams's Pastor Maldonado takes landmark Spanish Grand Prix win, Williams had a problem fitting his left rear tyre and that left Alonso only 3.1secs adrift when he rejoined from his final stop three laps later.
8. (transitive) To equip or supply.The chandler will fit us with provisions for a month.
9. (transitive) To make ready.I'm fitting the ship for a summer sail home.
10. (intransitive, archaic) To be seemly.
11. To be proper or becoming.
• Alexander PopeNor fits it to prolong the feast.
12. (intransitive) To be in harmony.The paint, the fabrics, the rugs all fit.

Derived terms

• fit like a glove
• fit up
• misfit

Noun

1. The degree to which something fits.This shirt is a bad fit.Since he put on weight, his jeans have been a tight fit.
2. Conformity of elements one to another.It's hard to get a good fit using second-hand parts.
3. The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.
4. (advertising) how well a particular commercial execution captures the character or values of a brand.The Wonder Bread advertising research results showed the “White Picket Fence” commercial had strong fit ratings.
5. (statistics) goodness of fit.

Usage notes

Usually used in the singular preceded by an indefinite article and an adjective.

Unknown, possibly from Old English fitt ("song"), or, from the sense of fitted to length.

Noun

1. (archaic) A section of a poem or ballad.
• 1771, Samuel Johnson, "Letter to Bennet Langton, Esq. (March 20)," in , (1791), vol 2:Dr. Percy has written a long ballad in many fits.
• Spenserto play some pleasant fit

Unknown, possibly from Old English fitt ("conflict").

Noun

1. (medicine) A seizure or convulsion.My grandfather died after having a fit.
2. (medicine) A sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom over a short period of time.
3. A sudden outburst of emotion.He had a laughing fit which lasted more than ten minutes.She had a fit and had thrown all of his clothes out of the window.He threw a fit when his car broke down.
4. A sudden burst (of an activity).
• 2007, July 9, Ryan J. Foley, Wisconsin city^s largest employer threatens to leave over ethanol, A fit of spring-cleaning led Eric Brooks to a box of old newspaper clips from 1997.

Synonyms

• (sudden outburst of emotion) blowout, hissy, tantrum, spell, moment
• (sudden burst of activity) flurry, frenzy

Derived terms

Verb

1. (intransitive, medicine) To suffer a fit.