bit

1 of 2

verb (1)

bitted; bitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to put part of a bridle in the mouth of (a horse) : to put a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 2a) in the mouth of (a horse)

b

: to control as if with a bit

2

: to form a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 4) on (a key)

bitt

2 of 2

verb (2)

bitted; bitting; bitts

transitive verb

: to make (a cable) fast about a bitt

Examples of bit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

From one set of perspectives, money is said to be a thing that exists in a definite quantity—ideally gold, but now bits on a computer; ensuring that the right amount of money exists is the only way to avoid a host of macro-economic problems. —Literary Hub, 13 May 2026

Rising costs of computer chips also bit into profit and remain a concern, according to Sony, which has film, music and video-game operations. —ABC News, 7 May 2026

Verb

Seafaring folk called that part of the cable that is to the rear of the windlass bitt, and the turn of the cable around the bitts the bitter. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

derivative of bit entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1736, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bit

• a bit
• a bit much
• a bit of a/an
• a bit of all right
• a bit of crumpet
• a bit strong
• a little bit
• a wee bit
• bit by bit
• bit player
• bit-rate
• bit rot
• bit stream
• champing at the bit
• chomping at the bit
• do one's bit
• every bit
• every little bit helps
• get/take the bit between one's teeth
• hair of the dog (that bit you)
• not a bit of it
• not a blind bit
• not a/one bit
• not (in) the least/smallest/slightest/tiniest bit
• parity bit
• quite a bit
• sixpenny bit
• the whole bit
• two-bit

Rhymes for bit

• brit
• britt
• chit
• fit
• flit
• grit
• hit
• it
• kitt
• knit
• lit
• mitt

Kids Definition

bit

1 of 3 noun

ˈbit 

1

: the usually metal bar attached to a bridle and put in the mouth of a horse

2

: the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool

the drill bit

bit

2 of 3 noun

1

: a small piece or amount

2

: a short time

rest a bit

bit

3 of 3 noun

1

: a unit of computer information that represents the selection of one of two possible choices (as yes or no, on or off)

2

: something (as an electrical pulse, a magnetized spot, or a punched hole) that physically represents a bit

Etymology

Noun

Old English bite "act of biting"

Noun

earlier bit "small piece of food," from Old English bita (same meaning)

Noun

binary digit