fit (third-person singular simple presentfits, present participlefitting, simple past and past participlefittedorfit)
(transitive) To be suitable for.
1918, Richard Dennis Teall Hollister, Speech-making, publ. George Wahr, pg. 81:
The speaker should be certain that his subject fits the occasion.
(intransitive) To have sufficient space available at some location to be able to be there.
(transitive) To conform to in size and shape.
(intransitive) To be of the right size and shape
(transitive, with to) To make conform in size and shape.
(transitive) To tailor; to change to the appropriate size.
(transitive) To be in agreement with.
(transitive) To adjust.
(transitive) To attach, especially when requiring exact positioning or sizing.
(transitive) To equip or supply.
(transitive) To make ready.
(intransitive, archaic) To be seemly.
To be proper or becoming.
(intransitive) To be in harmony.
Usage notes
In senses 1 to 6, this is generally a stative verb that rarely takes the continuous inflection. See Category:English stative verbs
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
fit (pluralfits)
The degree to which something fits.
Conformity of elements one to another.
The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.
(advertising) Measure of how well a particular commercial execution captures the character or values of a brand.
(statistics) Goodness of fit.
(bridge) The quality of a partnership's combined holding of cards in a suit, particularly of trump.
Usage notes
Usually used in the singular preceded by an indefinite article and an adjective.
Derived terms
Translations
References
(advertising): The Advertising Research Handbook Charles E. Young, Ideas in Flight, Seattle, Washington, April 2005
Etymology 2
Unknown, possibly from Old Englishfitt(“song”), or from the sense of fitted to length. Compare Old Saxon*fittea (attested in the borrowed Latinvittea).
Noun
fit (pluralfits)
(archaic) A section of a poem or ballad.
1771, Samuel Johnson, "Letter to Bennet Langton, Esq. (March 20)," in James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), vol 2:
Dr. Percy has written a long ballad in many fits.
References
Oxford English Dictionary: fit, fyte n. 1
Etymology 3
Unknown, possibly from Old Englishfitt(“conflict”). Compare Cornishfit(“game match, bout”); or else, probably cognate with Italianfitta(“pain, especially sudden and stabbing pain”).
See more at Latinfīgere.
Noun
fit (pluralfits)
A seizure or convulsion.
(medicine) A sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom over a short period of time.
A sudden outburst of emotion.
Synonyms:blowout, hissy, tantrum, spell, moment
A sudden burst (of an activity).
Synonyms:flurry, frenzy, paroxysm
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
fit (third-person singular simple presentfits, present participlefitting, simple past and past participlefitted)
(intransitive, medicine) To suffer a fit.
Etymology 4
Formed from fight on the model of bite:bit and light:lit.
Verb
fit
(African-American Vernacular, Southern US, dated)simple past and past participle of fight; fought.
c. 19th century, unknown author, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down
Etymology 5
Clipping of outfit
Noun
fit (pluralfits)
(slang) An outfit, a set of clothing.
See also
fit-fit
Anagrams
ITF, TIF, if't
Albanian
Etymology 1
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
fitm (pluralfite, definitefiti)
wedge
Synonym:pykë
(figurative) provocation
Synonyms:spica, kalla
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Back-formation from fitoj(“to profit”).
Noun
fitm (definitefiti)
(archaic) profit, gain
Synonym:fitim
Adverb
fit(colloquial)
even, quits
Synonyms:barabar, pat
References
Further reading
“fit”, in FGJSSH: Fjalor i gjuhës së sotme shqipe [Dictionary of the modern Albanian language][4] (in Albanian), 1980, page 477
Azerbaijani
Etymology
Onomatopoeic.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [fit]
Noun
fit (definite accusativefiti, pluralfitlər)
whistle
siren (a device that makes a piercingly loud sound as an alarm or signal, or the sound from such a device)
Declension
Derived terms
fit çalmaq(“to whistle”)
Catalan
Etymology
Inherited from Latinfīctus, archaic past participle of fīgō(“to fasten, fix”). Doublet of fix and fixed.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): (Central, Balearic, Valencian)[ˈfit]
Rhymes: -it
Adjective
fit (femininefita, masculine pluralfits, feminine pluralfites)
fixed, steady (of eyes, regard, etc.)
Derived terms
de fit a fit
fitar
Related terms
fita
fitó
Noun
fitm (pluralfits)
target
Synonym:fitó
Further reading
“fit” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
Chinese
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Englishfit.
Adjective
fit
(Cantonese)fit(physically well; in good shape)
Alternative forms
弗(fit1)
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Irregular romanisation of 法(fit1).
Noun
fit
(Hong Kong Cantonese)Used in符fit.
Etymology 3
Irregular romanisation of 弗(fit1).
Noun
fit
(Hong Kong Cantonese)Used in揸fit and花fit.
Alternative forms
𢝵, 𢞵(fit1)
Etymology 4
Onomatopoeic.
Verb
fit
(Cantonese) to whip
Alternative forms
𢝵, 𢞵(fit1)
Etymology 5
Clipping of Englishfitting room.
Noun
fit
(Hong Kong Cantonese) fitting room
Czech
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [ˈfɪt]
Adjective
fit (indeclinable)
fit, healthy
Further reading
fit in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
fit in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
Dutch
Pronunciation
Rhymes: -ɪt
Adjective
fit (comparativefitter, superlativefitst)
fit (in good shape)
Inflection
French
Pronunciation
Verb
fit
third-person singular past historic of faire
German
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from Englishfit.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /fɪt/
Rhymes: -ɪt
Adjective
fit (strong nominative masculine singularfitter, comparativefitter, superlativeam fittesten)