Quantcast
Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Scrabble
  • Spanish Central
  • Learner's Dictionary

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

befit

play
verb be·fit \bi-ˈfit, bē-\

Simple Definition of befit

  • : to be suitable to or proper for (someone or something)

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of befit

befitted

befitting
  1. transitive verb

  2. :  to be proper or becoming to <clothing that befits the occasion>

See befit defined for English-language learners

See befit defined for kids



Examples of befit in a sentence

  1. She has a mind for serious inquiry, as befits a scientist.

  2. <spoke politely of the deceased, as befitted the occasion>



15th Century

First Known Use of befit

15th century

befit Synonyms

Synonyms
do, beseem [archaic], fit

BEFIT Defined for Kids

befit

play
verb be·fit \bi-ˈfit\

Definition of befit for Students

befitted

befitting

  1. :  to be suitable to or proper for <Wear clothes befitting the occasion.>



Learn More about befit

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for befit Spanish Central: Translation of befit Nglish: Translation of befit for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of befit for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up befit? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

cabal

play

a secret group of plotters

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. diaspora From the Greek word meaning "to scatter"

  2. big league, bigly Both are real words

  3. stamina The word means "staying power"

  4. temperament The candidates attacked each other's temperaments

  5. braggadocio Trump said 'braggadocious'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

bef
befit

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

dog-eating-apple

Which is a synonym of asperse?

defame divulge placate beat
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

migos
Dabbing

New uses of an old word

autumn
Is It 'Autumn' or 'Fall'?

Why does this season have two different names?

transfiguration
'Dumbledore', 'Hippogriff', and 11 More Real Words from Harry Potter

The history behind Harry Potter

hipster
The Original Hipsters

Hint: they carried things on their hips

Ask the Editors

subjunctive
How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

dog-eating-apple
September Words of the Day Quiz

Test your knowledge of September Words of the Day.

Take the quiz
alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Can you spell these 15 tricky spelling words?

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: befit in a sentence