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
7
archaic
: suite sense 1
suited; suiting; suits
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
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
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023
Now, Copeland wants Apple and Unicode to follow suit.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2023
That suit is scheduled to go to trial in 2025.
Dias, who did not reply to a request for comment, was not the only board member to raise issues with the Murdochs regarding Fox News.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
Her Oppenheimer-star husband went for a monochromatic ensemble too, with a classic black suit, collarless black button-down, and black patent leather dress shoes.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2023
But the start of the trial could be delayed if a state appeals court upholds a last-minute legal challenge by Trump after the former president filed suit against the judge.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2023
It was filed in New York state court in December by a consumer who sought to represent a whole class of customers, and who then voluntarily discontinued the suit in March without explanation.
—Teresa Xie, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2023
In the suit, the children are only referred to by their initials, WRJ, born in 2020, and DMJ, born in 2022.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2023
But there was a doorman, a guy in a peach-colored suit with his arms crossed, who manned the elevator entryway.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2023
An experienced healthcare professional can help create a treatment plan that suits the individual, including changing to Rybelsus, the oral form of semaglutide if needed.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
In 2018—the same year the Italian textile juggernaut Zegna bought a majority stake in the brand, at a valuation of five hundred million dollars—LeBron James, a longtime fan, bought his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates matching Thom Browne suits to wear to playoff games.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Our aim is to ensure that all viewers have access to a free, aggregated live TV experience that champions British content and is delivered in a way that suits audience needs and preferences.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2023
Fergie celebrates her 39th birthday with Josh Duhamel and baby Axl
Parenthood suited the couple well.
—Diana Pearl, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2023
With Medicare open enrollment happening Oct. 15-Dec. 7, people turning age 65 and older have the opportunity to choose the plan that best suits their needs.
—Steven Lindsey, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
As evidenced by our list of the best slow cookers, there are larger and smaller models available to suit a variety of needs and household sizes.
—Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
From cushy, cloudlike running shoes to supportive walking sneakers, there’s a wide range of options to suit every preference.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 11 Sep. 2023
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Noun
In their suit challenging that law, the gun owners and the California Rifle & Pistol Association argued that the ban violated their constitutional right to self-defense.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2023
Now, Copeland wants Apple and Unicode to follow suit.
—Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2023
That suit is scheduled to go to trial in 2025.
Dias, who did not reply to a request for comment, was not the only board member to raise issues with the Murdochs regarding Fox News.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023
Her Oppenheimer-star husband went for a monochromatic ensemble too, with a classic black suit, collarless black button-down, and black patent leather dress shoes.
—Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2023
But the start of the trial could be delayed if a state appeals court upholds a last-minute legal challenge by Trump after the former president filed suit against the judge.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2023
It was filed in New York state court in December by a consumer who sought to represent a whole class of customers, and who then voluntarily discontinued the suit in March without explanation.
—Teresa Xie, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2023
In the suit, the children are only referred to by their initials, WRJ, born in 2020, and DMJ, born in 2022.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2023
But there was a doorman, a guy in a peach-colored suit with his arms crossed, who manned the elevator entryway.
—Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Verb
Lots of denim? — and select a color that best suits you from there.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2023
An experienced healthcare professional can help create a treatment plan that suits the individual, including changing to Rybelsus, the oral form of semaglutide if needed.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023
In 2018—the same year the Italian textile juggernaut Zegna bought a majority stake in the brand, at a valuation of five hundred million dollars—LeBron James, a longtime fan, bought his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates matching Thom Browne suits to wear to playoff games.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Our aim is to ensure that all viewers have access to a free, aggregated live TV experience that champions British content and is delivered in a way that suits audience needs and preferences.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2023
Fergie celebrates her 39th birthday with Josh Duhamel and baby Axl
Parenthood suited the couple well.
—Diana Pearl, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2023
With Medicare open enrollment happening Oct. 15-Dec. 7, people turning age 65 and older have the opportunity to choose the plan that best suits their needs.
—Steven Lindsey, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
As evidenced by our list of the best slow cookers, there are larger and smaller models available to suit a variety of needs and household sizes.
—Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023
From cushy, cloudlike running shoes to supportive walking sneakers, there’s a wide range of options to suit every preference.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 11 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suit.' 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
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of suit was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing suit
Dictionary Entries Near suit
Cite this Entry
“Suit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suit. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
suit
1 of 2 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on suit
Nglish: Translation of suit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of suit for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about suit
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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