fitter; fittest
1
a
: acceptable from a particular viewpoint (as of competence or morality) : proper
a movie fit for the whole family
b(1)
: adapted to an end or design : suitable by nature or by art
found him to be a fit officer and gentleman—
Time
Time
(2)
: adapted to the environment so as to be capable of surviving
2
: sound physically and mentally : healthy
keeps fit by playing tennis and handball
3
a
: put into a suitable state : made ready
get the house fit for company
getting the ship fit for sea
b
: being in such a state as to be or seem ready to do or suffer something
fair fit to cry I was—Bryan MacMahon
Bryan MacMahonlaughing fit to burst
fitly
adverb
fitted or fit; fitting; fits
1
a
: to conform correctly to the shape or size of
These jeans don't fit me anymore.
b(1)
: to insert or adjust until correctly in place
Fit the dough into the pan.
He had some trouble fitting all of the pieces back into place.
(2)
: to make or adjust to the right shape and size
Theresa uploaded a snapshot on Twitter showing some of the mannequins she uses to fit the costumes.—Gemma Strong
Gemma Strong
(3)
: to measure for determining the specifications of something to be worn by
The tailor fitted him for a new suit.
c
: to make a place or room for : accommodate
She fit all of the books into a single box.
2
a
: to be suitable for or to : harmonize with
"My first impression of Joy was that her name fit her perfectly. She radiated joy and calmness …"—Beth Coger
Beth Coger
b
archaic
: to be seemly or proper for
It fits us, then, to be as provident / As fear may teach us …—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare3
: to be in agreement or accord with
The theory fits all the facts.
4
a
: to put into a condition of readiness
His temperament fitted him to understand an age of courageous exploits …—Van Wyck Brooks
Van Wyck Brooks
b
: to cause to conform to or suit something
You must fit the words to the music.
5
6
mathematics
: to adjust (a smooth curve of a specified type) to a given set of points
1
: to conform to a particular shape or size
The dress fits perfectly.
also
: to be accommodated
Will we all fit into the car?
2
: to be in harmony or accord : belong
—often used with in
"He wanted the house to look natural, to fit in with the island landscape. …"—Olivia Harrison
Olivia HarrisonI arrived in the United States at age three and grew up wanting both to live up to the … expectations of my parents and to fit in with the customs of my new homeland.—Nely Galán
Nely Galán3
chiefly British
: to experience or be affected with a seizure and especially an epileptic seizure
The 48-year-old was shopping in Stourbridge's Ryemarket when she collapsed and began fitting.—Birmingham (U.K.) Evening Mail
Birmingham (U.K.) Evening Mail4
archaic
: to be seemly, proper, or suitable
Why dost thou laugh? It fits not with this hour.—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
fitter
noun
: the fact, condition, or manner of fitting or being fitted: such as
a
: the way clothing fits the wearer
b
: the degree of closeness between surfaces in an assembly of parts
c
1
: an emotional reaction (as in anger or frustration)
has a fit when I show up late
2
: a sudden burst or flurry (as of activity)
cleaned the whole house in a fit of efficiency
3
a
: a sudden violent attack of a disease (such as epilepsy) especially when marked by convulsions or unconsciousness : paroxysm
b
: a sudden but transient attack of a physical disturbance
archaic
: a division of a poem or song
fit
6 of 6dialectal past tense and past participle of fight
Synonyms
Examples of fit in a Sentence
Adjective
Patients are encouraged to get fit.
Are you fit enough to walk there?
Verb
The suit fits him perfectly.
I hope this key fits the lock.
The two pieces fit each other perfectly.
This calculator will fit nicely in your shirt pocket.
The two pieces fit together perfectly.
How many people can fit in a phone booth?
The box was too large to fit through the door.
I can't fit all these groceries into the trunk of my car.
We weren't able to fit the box through the door.
fitting the jacket to the customer
See More
Recent Examples on the WebMarci Robin, Allure, 29 Nov. 2023
Ski boot fit is personal and performance-based, but generally the fit needs to feel secure without being constricting.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023
Hannity gave assurances the governor would have time to answer questions and that the exchange would not be edited except to fit broadcast time constraints.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023
Unroll the crust, fit into a pie plate, fold the edges under, and crimp.
—Amanda Stanfield, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023
The captive hostages and their worried families are separated by the kind of mileage a fit person could run in an afternoon.
—Matthew Hennessey, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023
The house was funded by the philanthropist Amelia Peabody and with the help of the prominent architect Eleanor Raymond, Mária designed a house fit for a Sun Queen.
—Johanna Mayer, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023
What to Consider These run large — be sure to size down for a boyfriend fit that won’t slide off.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
And ahead of the holidays, these types of wellness-centric products make for the perfect gift for the fit people in your life.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023
To fit the timeslot, credit windows will only air once a night, and recaps will only appear at the top of the night’s first episode after week one.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Swift arrived on the carpet in a floor-length silver gown, fitting the premiere’s chrome theme.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023
Moreover, the work of transition can be neither top-down (i.e., mold the leader to fit the organization) nor bottom-up (i.e., mold the organization to fit the leader).
—Sam Rockwell, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Now that the world has opened up again, many aren’t willing to relinquish all that comfort and go back to stiff and starchy fits.
—Michael Loré, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
More than just cleaning up refrigerators’ acts, the alternatives could create cooling devices in miniature, small enough to fit in a pocket.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
The price-fixing case fit neatly into the overarching strategy, but the March 2022 retrial resulted in another hung jury.
—H. Claire Brown, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
There’s also an option to buy a set of hangers on a custom rod that can be resized to fit a variety of spaces.
—WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023
Noma Nazish, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
And then there’s fits that are made for resting easy.
—Michael Loré, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
The simple indie sounds of the Folklore album comforted us during the unknowns of the pandemic, so a cozy cottagecore aesthetic is a perfect fit for the cold weather when many of us are stuck inside.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2023
Lipa let her outerwear do most of the talking with this fit, wearing her red hair down and keeping the makeup and jewelry to a minimum.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2023
The mesh material provides a sock-like fit that is lightweight and breathable, not to mention stylish.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
The position was a natural fit for the supermodel, who has worked with several international charities dedicated to improving lives and creating opportunities for young people, particularly in Africa.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
While the model's massive crewneck is definitely made of a much softer knit than Rory's famous fisherman sweater from the Y2K series' pilot episode, the color and oversized fit were spot on.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2023
Why was Fortnite the right fit for something like this?
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
See More
Adjective
But despite the ‘fit being one of his most instantly memorable, Chalamet’s hair stole the show.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 29 Nov. 2023
Ski boot fit is personal and performance-based, but generally the fit needs to feel secure without being constricting.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023
Hannity gave assurances the governor would have time to answer questions and that the exchange would not be edited except to fit broadcast time constraints.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023
Unroll the crust, fit into a pie plate, fold the edges under, and crimp.
—Amanda Stanfield, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023
The captive hostages and their worried families are separated by the kind of mileage a fit person could run in an afternoon.
—Matthew Hennessey, WSJ, 26 Nov. 2023
The house was funded by the philanthropist Amelia Peabody and with the help of the prominent architect Eleanor Raymond, Mária designed a house fit for a Sun Queen.
—Johanna Mayer, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023
What to Consider These run large — be sure to size down for a boyfriend fit that won’t slide off.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
And ahead of the holidays, these types of wellness-centric products make for the perfect gift for the fit people in your life.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 16 Nov. 2023
Verb
Their resulting prototype, that fits in the palm of a hand, has detected TBI issues within postmortem animal samples.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023
To fit the timeslot, credit windows will only air once a night, and recaps will only appear at the top of the night’s first episode after week one.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Swift arrived on the carpet in a floor-length silver gown, fitting the premiere’s chrome theme.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023
Moreover, the work of transition can be neither top-down (i.e., mold the leader to fit the organization) nor bottom-up (i.e., mold the organization to fit the leader).
—Sam Rockwell, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Now that the world has opened up again, many aren’t willing to relinquish all that comfort and go back to stiff and starchy fits.
—Michael Loré, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
More than just cleaning up refrigerators’ acts, the alternatives could create cooling devices in miniature, small enough to fit in a pocket.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
The price-fixing case fit neatly into the overarching strategy, but the March 2022 retrial resulted in another hung jury.
—H. Claire Brown, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
There’s also an option to buy a set of hangers on a custom rod that can be resized to fit a variety of spaces.
—WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023
Noun
The notch collar, contrast piping trim and drapey fit add a touch of chic.
—Noma Nazish, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
And then there’s fits that are made for resting easy.
—Michael Loré, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
The simple indie sounds of the Folklore album comforted us during the unknowns of the pandemic, so a cozy cottagecore aesthetic is a perfect fit for the cold weather when many of us are stuck inside.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2023
Lipa let her outerwear do most of the talking with this fit, wearing her red hair down and keeping the makeup and jewelry to a minimum.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2023
The mesh material provides a sock-like fit that is lightweight and breathable, not to mention stylish.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
The position was a natural fit for the supermodel, who has worked with several international charities dedicated to improving lives and creating opportunities for young people, particularly in Africa.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
While the model's massive crewneck is definitely made of a much softer knit than Rory's famous fisherman sweater from the Y2K series' pilot episode, the color and oversized fit were spot on.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 18 Nov. 2023
Why was Fortnite the right fit for something like this?
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English; akin to Middle English fitten
Verb and Noun (1)
Middle English fitten to marshal troops, from or akin to Middle Dutch vitten to be suitable
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English fitt strife
Noun (3)
Middle English, from Old English fitt; akin to Old Saxon fittea division of a poem, Old High German fizza skein
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b(1)
Verb
circa 1586, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 4
Noun (1)
1823, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
circa 1541, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Noun (3)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of fit was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing fit
Dictionary Entries Near fit
Cite this Entry
“Fit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fit. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
fit
1 of 4 adjective
fitter; fittest
1
: suitable for a particular purpose
water fit for drinking
especially
: so adapted to the environment as to be capable of surviving
—often used in the phrase survival of the fittest
2
: acceptable from a particular point of view : proper
a movie fit for the whole family
3
: ready entry 1 sense 1, prepared
get the ship fit for sea
4
: qualified sense 1, competent
fit for the job
5
: sound physically and mentally : healthy
fitness
noun
fit
2 of 4 noun1
: a sudden violent attack of a disease or condition (as epilepsy) especially when marked by convulsions or loss of consciousness
2
: a sudden outburst (as of laughter or anger)
fit
3 of 4 verb
fitted or fit; fitting
1
: to be suitable for or to : befit
2
a
: to be of the right size and shape
the suit fits
b
: to insert or adjust until correctly in place
c
: to make a place or room for
fit another chair
3
: to be in agreement with
his story fits the facts
5
: to supply what is needed for : equip
fit out an expedition
6
: to be in harmony or agreement : belong
—often used with in
fit
4 of 4 noun1
: the way something fits
a tight fit
2
: a piece of clothing that fits
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English fit "suitable to a particular purpose"
Noun
Old English fitt "strife"
Medical Definition
fit
2 of 3 adjective
fitter; fittest
1
: adapted to the environment so as to be capable of surviving
2
: sound physically and mentally : healthy
fitness
noun
fit
3 of 3 noun
: the fact, condition, or manner of being fitted or adapted
More from Merriam-Webster on fit
Nglish: Translation of fit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fit for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fit
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