suit

1 of 2

noun

ˈsüt 

1

: a set of garments: such as

a

: an ensemble of two or more usually matching outer garments (such as a jacket, vest, and trousers)

businessmen wearing three-piece suits

b

: a costume to be worn for a special purpose or under particular conditions

gym suits

2

a

: an action or process in a court for the recovery of a right or claim

b

: recourse or appeal to a feudal superior for justice or redress

3

a

: all the playing cards in a pack bearing the same symbol

b

: all the dominoes bearing the same number

c

: all the cards or counters in a particular suit held by one player

a 5-card suit

d

: the suit led

follow suit

4

slang : a business executive

—usually used in plural

5

: a group of things forming a unit : suite

—used chiefly of armor, sails, and counters in games

6

: an act or instance of suing or seeking by entreaty : appeal

specifically : courtship

7

archaic : suite sense 1

suited

ˈsü-təd 

adjective

suit

2 of 2

verb

suited; suiting; suits

transitive verb

1

: to meet the needs or desires of : please

suits me fine

2

a

: to be proper for : befit

a mood that suits the occasion

b

: to be becoming to

that dress suits you

3

: to outfit with clothes : dress

4

: accommodate, adapt

suit the action to the word

intransitive verb

1

: to put on specially required clothing (such as a uniform or protective garb)

—usually used with up

players suiting up for the game

2

: to be in accordance : agree

the position suits with your abilities

3

: to be appropriate or satisfactory

these prices don't suit

Synonyms

Noun

• lawsuit

Verb

• suffice
• fit [archaic]
• do
• serve
• befit
• fit the bill

Examples of suit in a Sentence

Noun

He wore his gray suit to the job interview.

filed a suit against the company that had manufactured the faulty heater, claiming they were responsible for the fire

Verb

This kind of behavior hardly suits a person of your age.

She gave a serious speech that suited the occasion.

The formal furniture really suited the style of the house.

The job suits her very well.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Trump filed the suit in October after CBS aired its interview with Harris. —Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

The federal government could seize some of Combs’ assets if he’s found guilty and a conviction would increase the likelihood of success for potential civil suits, some experts told ABC News. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 1 July 2025

Verb

As such, Raleigh's new icon will likely be best suited to slight inclines and fairly level city streets. —New Atlas, 5 July 2025

Available for adoption through Our Companions’ Re-homing Program, Rocco is 2 years old and looking to find a home that can better suit his youthful energy and size. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 4 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sute, seute pursuit, retinue, set, legal action, from Anglo-French siute, suite, from Vulgar Latin *sequita, from feminine of *sequitus, past participle of *sequere to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing suit

• bathing suit
• birthday suit
• bunny suit
• business suit
• counter-suit
• dinner suit
• diving suit
• dry suit
• empty suit
• file/bring (a) suit
• flight suit
• follow suit
• G suit
• jogging suit
• leisure suit
• long suit
• lounge suit
• major suit
• minor suit
• moon suit
• pants suit
• pressure suit
• safari suit
• sailor suit
• shell suit
• SLAPP suit
• space suit
• strong suit
• suit every pocket
• suit every pocketbook
• suit oneself
• suit (someone) down to the ground
• suit someone's book
• suit up
• sweat suit
• tank suit
• three-piece suit
• trouser suit
• two-piece suit
• union suit
• wet suit
• zoot suit

Rhymes for suit

• beaut
• boot
• bruit
• brut
• brute
• chute
• coot
• cute
• flute
• fruit
• hoot
• jute

Kids Definition

suit

1 of 2 noun

ˈsüt 

1

: an action or process in a court for enforcing a right or claim

2

: an act or instance of requesting earnestly

especially : courtship

3

: a number of things used together : set

4

a

: an outer costume of two or more pieces

b

: a costume to be worn for a special purpose or under particular conditions

gym suit

5

a

: all the cards of one kind (as spades or hearts) in a pack of playing cards

b

: all the dominoes bearing the same number

suit

2 of 2 verb

1

: to outfit with clothes : dress

2

: to make suitable : adapt

suit the action to the word

3

a

: to be proper for

a mood that suits the occasion

b

: to be becoming to

that dress suits you

4

: to meet the needs or desires of : please

suits me fine

5

: to be in accordance : agree

the job suits with your abilities

6

: to be appropriate or satisfactory

these prices do not suit

Medical Definition

suit

see g suit, pressure suit

Legal Definition

suit

noun

: a proceeding to enforce a right or claim

specifically : an action brought in a court seeking a remedy for injuries suffered or a determination of rights : lawsuit

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French siute, suite, suit request to initiate legal proceedings, literally, pursuit, from siute, feminine past participle of suire to follow, from Old French sivre see sue