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fit

UK/fɪt/ US/ˈfɪt/ common informal slang uk

verb

1.

be agreeable or acceptable to

  • “This suits my needs”
2.

be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired

  • “This piece won”
Synonyms
3.

satisfy a condition or restriction

  • “Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?”
4.

bring forth a spike or spikes

  • “my hyacinths and orchids are spiking now”
5.

insert or adjust several objects or people

  • “Can you fit the toy into the box?”
  • “This man can”
6.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

  • “The two stories don”
  • “;”
  • “;”
  • “s fingerprints don”
7.

conform to some shape or size

  • “How does this shirt fit?”
8.

provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose

  • “The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities”
9.

make correspond or harmonize

  • “Match my sweater”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

meeting adequate standards for a purpose

  • “a fit subject for discussion”
  • “it is fit and proper that you be there”
  • “water fit to drink”
  • “fit for duty”
  • “do as you see fit to”
Antonyms
2.

(usually followed by `to'' or `for'') on the point of or strongly disposed

  • “in no fit state to continue”
  • “fit to drop”
  • “laughing fit to burst”
  • “she was fit to scream”
  • “primed for a fight”
  • “we are set to go at any time”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

physically and mentally sound or healthy

  • “felt relaxed and fit after their holiday”
  • “keeps fit with diet and exercise”
Synonyms
Antonyms

noun

1.

a display of bad temper

  • “he had a fit”
  • “she threw a tantrum”
  • “he made a scene”
2.

a sudden uncontrollable attack

  • “a paroxysm of giggling”
  • “a fit of coughing”
  • “convulsions of laughter”
3.

the manner in which something fits

  • “I admired the fit of her coat”
4.

a sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason)

  • “a burst of applause”
  • “a fit of housecleaning”
Synonyms

Origin

Possibly from Middle English fit (“an adversary of equal power”), of uncertain further origin. The original sense appears to have been "to marshal or deploy troops", which shifted to "to suit (troops to a certain location" > "suitable", and may be further related to Icelandic fitja (“to web, knit, cast on”).

Phrases

  • blue fit
  • canary fit
  • conniption fit
  • could fit on the back of a postage stamp
  • fifth-day fits
  • fighting fit
  • fit and finish
  • fit as a butcher's dog
  • fit as a fiddle
  • fit as a flea
  • fit as a lop
  • fit as a Mallee bull

Related words

See also

Related verbs

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.