- 1 healthy and strong, especially because you do regular physical exercise Top athletes have to be very fit. fit (to do something) He won't be fit to play in the match on Saturday. She tries to keep fit by jogging every day. fit (for something) (British English) He's had a bad cold and isn't fit enough for work yet. I feel really fighting fit (= very healthy and full of energy). The government aims to make British industry leaner and fitter (= employing fewer people and with lower costs). opposite unfit Synonymswellall right OK fine healthy strong fitThese words all describe somebody who is not ill and is in good health.well [not usually before noun] (rather informal) in good health:I’m not feeling very well. Is he well enough to travel? Well is used especially to talk about your own health, to ask somebody about their health or to make a comment on it.all right [not before noun] (rather informal) not feeling ill; not injured:Are you feeling all right?OK [not before noun] (informal) not feeling ill; not injured:She says she’s OK now, and will be back at work tomorrow.all right or ok?These words are slightly less positive than the other words in this group. They are both used in spoken English to talk about not actually being ill or injured, rather than being positively in good health. Both are rather informal but OK is slightly more informal than all right.fine [not before noun] (not used in negative statements) (rather informal) completely well:‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’ Fine is used especially to talk about your health, especially when somebody asks you how you are. It is also used to talk about somebody’s health when you are talking to somebody else. Unlike well it is not often used to ask somebody about their health or make a comment on it:Are you keeping fine?healthy in good health and not likely to become ill:Keep healthy by exercising regularly.strong in good health and not suffering from an illness:After a few weeks she was feeling stronger. Strong is often used to talk about becoming healthy again after an illness.fit (especially British English) in good physical health, especially because you take regular physical exercise:I go swimming every day in order to keep fit.Patterns all right/OK/fit for something all right/OK/fit to do something to feel/look well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/strong/fit to keep (somebody) well/healthy/fit perfectly well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/fit physically well/healthy/strong/fit see also keep-fit Wordfinderfitdiet, exercise, fit, gym, health spa, nutrition, personal trainer, sport, stamina, workout Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, feel, look, … adverbextremely, fairly, very, … prepositionfor phrasesas fit as a fiddle, fit and healthy, fit and well, … See full entry See related entries: Good health, Exercise suitable
- 2 suitable; of the right quality; with the right qualities or skills fit for somebody/something The food was not fit for human consumption. It was a meal fit for a king (= of very good quality). The children seem to think I'm only fit for cooking and washing! fit to do something Your car isn't fit to be on the road! He's so angry he's in no fit state to see anyone. (formal) This is not a fit place for you to live. opposite unfit Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsconsider something, see, think, … prepositionfor phrasesfit and proper, fit for a king, in no fit state, … See full entry ready
- 3fit to do something (British English, informal) ready or likely to do something extreme They worked until they were fit to drop (= so tired that they were likely to fall down). I've eaten so much I'm fit to burst. She was laughing fit to burst (= very much). attractive
- 4(British English, informal) sexually attractive More Like This Consonant-doubling adjectives big, drab, fat, fit, flat, hot, mad, red, sad, wetSee worksheet. See related entries: Attractiveness Word Originadjective late Middle English: of unknown origin. Extra examplesGo for a little jog to keep fit. He seemed fighting fit and ready for action. It was a meal fit for a king. John isn’t fully fit yet after his operation. She felt physically fitter and more alive than she could ever remember. She looks really fit and healthy. The doctor said she was now fit for work. The newspaper did not see fit to publish my letter. You must do as you think fit. circumstances in which someone is not considered a fit and proper person to run a bank gentle exercises designed to keep you fit the struggle to get fit and stay fit A reasonably fit adult should have no difficulty with the climb. All the recruits seemed fit and healthy. He should be fit to play in the match tomorrow. He’s been ill and isn’t fit enough for work yet. He’s in no fit state to see anyone. I used to go swimming every day in order to keep fit. She won’t compete unless she’s fully fit. You’ll feel fitter and healthier if you exercise regularly. Your car isn’t fit to be on the road.Idioms
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BrE BrE//fɪt//; NAmE NAmE//fɪt//
(fitter, fittest) Attractiveness, Good health, Exercise(informal) in very good physical condition More Like ThisSimiles in idioms (as) bald as a coot, (as) blind as a bat, (as) bright as a button, (as) bold as brass, as busy as a bee, as clean as a whistle, (as) dead as a/the dodo, (as) deaf as a post, (as) dull as ditchwater, (as) fit as a fiddle, as flat as a pancake, (as) good as gold, (as) mad as a hatter/a March hare, (as) miserable/ugly as sin, as old as the hills, (as) pleased as Punch, as pretty as a picture, (as) regular as clockwork, (as) quick as a flash, (as) safe as houses, (as) sound as a bell, (as) steady as a rock, (as) thick as two short planks, (as) tough as old bootsSee worksheet.
(of an institution, a system, a thing, etc.) suitable for the function or purpose that it was designed for The minister argued that the education system wasn’t fit for purpose. The new executive flats are fully equipped and fit for purpose. I returned the goods as they weren’t fit for purpose.
(formal) to consider it right or acceptable to do something; to decide or choose to do something You must do as you think fit (= but I don't agree with your decision). The newspaper did not see fit to publish my letter (= and I criticize it for that).
the principle that only the people or things that are best adapted to their surroundings will continue to exist See related entries: Cell biology
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