Word family noun fit fitting fitness fitter misfit adjective fitted fitting fit ≠ unfit verb fit adverb fittingly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfitfit1 /fɪt/ ●●● S1 W2 verb (past tense and past participle fitted also fit American English, present participle fitting) 1 clothes a) [intransitive, transitive]FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE if a piece of clothing fits you, it is the right size for your body His clothes did not fit him very well. The uniform fitted her perfectly. The jacket’s fine, but the trousers don’t fit. I know this dress is going to fit you like a glove (=fit you very well). ► Use fit to say that clothes are not too big or too small. Use suit to say that clothes look attractive on someone: The dress fits, but it doesn’t suit me.GRAMMAR: Using the progressiveIn this meaning, fit is not used in the progressive. You say: The skirt fits (me). ✗Don’t say: The skirt is fitting (me). b) [transitive] to try a piece of clothing on someone to see if it is the right size for them, or to make sure a special piece of equipment is right for thembe fitted for something I’m being fitted for a new suit tomorrow.be fitted with something He may need to be fitted with a hearing aid.Grammar Fit is usually passive in this meaning.2 FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZEright size/shape a) [intransitive, transitive] if something fits in a place, it is the right size or shape to go there I couldn’t find a key which fitted the lock. Most cookers are designed to fit level with your worktops.fit in/into/under etc The plastic cover fits neatly over the frame. b) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put something carefully into a place that is the right size or shape for it She fitted the last piece into the jigsaw puzzle.3 enough space [intransitive, transitive]FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZE if something fits into a place, there is enough space for it I wanted to put the wardrobe behind the door, but I don’t think it’ll fit. You might be able to fit some small flowering plants between the larger bushes.fit somebody/something in/into something I don’t think we’ll be able to fit any more people into the car. We should be able to fit one more in.4 equipment/part [transitive]PUT to put a piece of equipment into a place, or a new part onto a machine, so that it is ready to be usedfit something on/to etc something I need to fit a lock on the door. Anti-theft devices are fitted to all our cars.be fitted with something The windows are all fitted with security locks.5 match/be suitable [intransitive, transitive]SAME if something fits another thing, it is similar to it or suitable for it The punishment should fit the crime. Police said the car fits the description of the stolen vehicle. Scientists often select facts to fit their theories. He didn’t fit the conventional image of a banker.fit with The rhythm should fit with the meaning of a poem. 6 → fit somebody for something7 → fit the bill8 → if the cap fits (, wear it) → somebody’s face doesn’t fit at face1(20) → fit in → fit into something → fit somebody/something ↔ out → fit together → fit somebody/something ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
fit• A man fitting that description was seen running from the park.• We were going to put the fridge between the stove and the washing machine, but it wouldn't fit.• He's put on so much weight that his clothes don't fit any more.• The pants fit fine, but the jacket's too small.• I'm looking for the puzzle piece that fits here.• He had to get his suits tailored to fit him.• Will this bag fit in the trunk?• We've designed a computer that fits into an ordinary briefcase.• Assess how your possessions fit into your new lifestyle together.• The pants were a little tight at first, but after I wore them a few times, they fit like a glove.• I had to fit new locks after the burglary.• I'm going to have a new exhaust system fitted next week.• They had altered the dress so that it fitted perfectly.• Ptolemy's epicycles could still fit the data.• Does your key fit the lock on the garage door?• The concept fitted the times, for this was a yeasty period.• On the plus side, a fold-down Plexiglas cover is fitted to the front of the saw, ahead of the blade.• Do these shoes still fit you?fit ... like a glove• But now she suddenly realised it fitted him like a glove.• In performing calculations we know exactly what to do and the answers fit nature like a glove.• Praise Six years on, the job almost seems to fit him like a glove.• After a while, it fit like a glove, and I became comfortable with it.fit in/into/under etc• You know and he really fits in.• What was the domain of the desktop until recently can now fit into a briefcase and will soon sit in the pocket.• There have been several suggestions as to how fossil agnathans may fit into a scheme such as this.• And when it comes to nutrition, those meals can fit in an overall healthy eating plan.• This does not seem to fit in at all with the demand for autonomy.• However you fit in, Paul enunciates one fundamental principle which characterises all other aspects of working relationships and practice.• If Greene is finally healthy, will he fit in properly?• The visitors will certainly be match fit in their third meeting on consecutive days. be fitted with something• Before leaving the hospital Thursday, he was fitted with a portable brain-wave monitor that he was to wear for 24-48 hours.• But how many diesel cars are fitted with catalysts?• And you must notice in this new first smoker the seats and backs are fitted with embossed crimson leather.• Most myopic children can be fitted with glasses with concave lenses which will bring their vision to normal.• All the ground floor windows were fitted with iron bars, a sufficient deterrent for the average break-and-enter boys.• Doors will now have to be fitted with special safety devices to prevent people or objects getting trapped in them.• This point means that where a motor vehicle is required to be fitted with wipers it must also have washers.fitfit2 ●●● S2 W3 adjective (comparative fitter, superlative fittest) 1 strongHEALTHY someone who is fit is strong and healthy, especially because they exercise regularly OPP unfit You must be very fit if you do so much running. He was young, good-looking, and physically fit. I swim twice a week to try and keep fit.fit for He may not be fit for Saturday’s match.fit to do something I don’t know if I’ll be fit enough to take part in the race. Psychiatrists said he was fit to stand trial (=he was mentally healthy enough). She’s over eighty now, but still as fit as a fiddle (=very fit).fighting fit British English (=very fit) I had just come back from holiday and was fighting fit.► see thesaurus at healthy2 SUITABLEsuitable suitable or good enough for something OPP unfitfit for We made sure the land was fit for drilling. The food was not fit for human consumption. This book is not fit for publication!fit to do something He is not fit to govern this country! This room is not fit to be seen!3 → see/think fit (to do something)4 → in a fit state (to do something)5 → fit for a king6 attractive British English sexually attractive7 → fit to drop8 → fit to burst9 → fit to be tiedExamples from the Corpus
fit• Cycling is a good way to keep fit.• We might speculate that those with dementia would be less willing to participate in a research project than the mentally fit.• When will Mark Tinkler be fit?• Just because you're in your sixties doesn't mean you can't be physically fit.• We've got a match next month, so we've got to keep ourselves reasonably fit.• All are contented, happy, fit and well.• I stay fit by swimming for an hour each morning.• The Allstar forward has been battling against injury lately and is given a 50/50 chance of being fit for Sunday.• Sandy's very fit - he runs almost 30 miles a week.• Sandy's very fit - he runs five miles every day.• In May, Harvey wrote to say that he and his wife were now fit to return to duty.fighting fit• Masie had responded brilliantly to treatment and seemed fighting fit.• She was taken in by Maggie Taylor and now five month old Teka is fighting fit and lapping up all the attention.• Consequently, it hosts an excellent wild brown trout population and fish are pink-fleshed and fighting fit, averaging 10oz in weight.fit to do something• But the country is no longer fit to be enjoyed.• The only bright spot was the news that Lewis should be fit to bowl in the final Test.• Clare thought Caro didn't look fit to come out of hospital.• Providence saw fit to favour me with wonderful in-laws.• You ain't fit to live with decent people.• He must have been physically fit to survive the punishing schedule to which he submitted himself.• The doctor's opinion was that she was fit to travel. fitfit3 ●●○ noun 1 emotion [countable]EMOTIONAL a time when you feel an emotion very strongly and cannot control your behaviourfit of She killed him in a fit of temper. He quit his job in a fit of drunken depression.2 lose consciousness [countable]MI a short period of time when someone loses consciousness and cannot control their body because their brain is not working properly She used to have fits as a baby. people who suffer from epileptic fits3 laugh/cough [countable]PERIOD OF TIME a short time during which you laugh or cough a lot in a way that you cannot control He had a violent coughing fit.fit of The girls collapsed into a fit of the giggles. We were all in fits of laughter trying to clear up the mess. Carl had us all in fits (=made us laugh a lot) with his stories.4 → have/throw a fit5 FIT/BE THE RIGHT SIZEright size [singular] the way in which something fits on your body or fits into a space The dress was a perfect fit. I managed to get everything into the suitcase, but it was a tight fit.6 suitable [singular] formalSAME if there is a fit between two things, they are similar to each other or are suitable for each otherfit between We must be sure that there’s a fit between the needs of the children and the education they receive.7 → in/by fits and startsExamples from the Corpus
fit• I began running about a month ago to improve my physical fitness.• The magazine contained several articles about healthy eating, fitness, and exercise.• I had a coughing fit that lasted nearly an hour.• He started to have fits and he suffered permanent damage.• But his proposals for electoral reform, now moving ahead in fits and starts, contain no such provision.• This means the machine tends to go forward in fits and starts, sometimes quite quickly but at other times embarrassingly slowly.• The boy had a history of fits.• I wanted him back because I thought he was a perfect fit for David as far as being vocal.fit of• In a fit of rage he slammed the door in her face.• a fit of depressionepileptic fits• After Darren was born, he had to stay in hospital an extra ten days because he suffered from epileptic fits.• He had not spoken once since arriving at the unit and had suffered numerous epileptic fits.• Mr Ballantyne said that he ran out of a drug used to control Mr Stockton's epileptic fits.• Doctors at the National Epilepsy centre at the Park hospital in Oxford carry out research into what can trigger epileptic fits. in fits of laughter• He had the entire audience in fits of laughter.• They looked really comical, and Frankie and I were in fits of laughter trying to help them.tight fit• It was going to be a tight fit.• Life must go on, and eight records makes for a tight fit in a 40-minute programme.• After turning the Disc you have a tighter fit, but not necessarily a better one.• We arrive in Paris, and make a tight fit into a tiny chambre de bonne in the Fifteenth Arrondissement.• He got up as quickly as the tight fit of the table in the breakfast nook would allow.• This tighter fit enables caffeine to plug the receptor, thus preventing adenosine from binding.fit between• There must be a fit between the children's needs and the education they receive. fitfit4 verb (fitted, fitting) [intransitive] British English to have a seizure (=a sudden condition in which someone cannot control the movements of their body) The patient was fitting.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
fit• Johnson found it full of weeds; today it is tailored and fitted.• There are definite health benefits to being fit.• He had to get his suits tailored to fit him.• Assess how your possessions fit into your new lifestyle together.• They had altered the dress so that it fitted perfectly.• Ptolemy's epicycles could still fit the data.• The concept fitted the times, for this was a yeasty period.• On the plus side, a fold-down Plexiglas cover is fitted to the front of the saw, ahead of the blade.From Longman Business Dictionaryfitfit1 /fɪt/ verb (past tense fitted also fit American English, present participle fitting) [transitive] to put a piece of equipment into place, or a new part on a machinefit something on/to somethingInteractive entertainment systems have been fitted on all the airline’s 747s.Anti-theft devices are fitted to all our cars.fit something with somethingInsurance is cheaper for homes fitted with alarms. → fit something → out→ See Verb tablefitfit2 noun [countable, uncountable]ECONOMICS if there is a fit between a company’s different activities, they go well together and can be managed together profitablyfit betweenThe fit between the two merged supermarket chains is excellent. → strategic fitOrigin fit2 (1400-1500) Perhaps from FIT1 fit3 Old English fitt “disagreement, opposition, fighting” 