fit
verb/fɪt/
/fɪt/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they fit | /fɪt/ /fɪt/ |
| he / she / it fits | /fɪts/ /fɪts/ |
| past simple fitted | /ˈfɪtɪd/ /ˈfɪtɪd/ |
| past participle fitted | /ˈfɪtɪd/ /ˈfɪtɪd/ |
| (North American English usually) past simple fit | /fɪt/ /fɪt/ |
| (North American English usually) past participle fit | /fɪt/ /fɪt/ |
| -ing form fitting | /ˈfɪtɪŋ/ /ˈfɪtɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the right shape and size for somebody/something
- I tried the dress on but it didn't fit.
- That jacket fits well.
- My shoes fit perfectly.
- a close-fitting dress
- fit somebody/something I can't find clothes to fit me.
- The key doesn't fit the lock.
Extra ExamplesTopics Clothes and Fashiona2- The shoes don't fit properly.
- jeans which barely fit his stout body
- I had to have the dress altered to fit my slimmer body.
- The screws fit the holes exactly.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- closely
- neatly
- nicely
- …
- be designed to
- in
- into
- onto
- …
- [intransitive] to be of the right size, type or number to go somewhere
- I'd like to have a desk in the room but it won't fit.
- + adv./prep. This device is small enough to fit in a pocket.
- His arms fitted snugly around me.
Extra Examples- That chair should fit into the room easily.
- The pencils fit neatly into this box.
- The waste unit is designed to fit under the sink.
- All the windows were too small for an adult to fit through.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- closely
- neatly
- nicely
- …
- be designed to
- in
- into
- onto
- …
- [transitive, often passive] to put clothes on somebody and make them the right size and shape
- be fitted for something I'm going to be fitted for my wedding dress today.
- [transitive] to put or fix something somewhere
- fit something + adv./prep. They fitted a smoke alarm to the ceiling.
- uPVC windows have been fitted throughout the house.
- fit something with something The rooms were all fitted with smoke alarms.
- [intransitive, transitive] to put or join something in the right place
- fit + adv./prep. The glass fits on top of the jug to form a lid.
- How do these two parts fit together?
- fit something + adv./prep. We fitted together the pieces of the puzzle.
- If the top of the box fits badly, the contents will spill out.
- [intransitive, transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to agree with, match or be suitable for something; to make something do this
- Something doesn't quite fit here.
- fit into something His pictures don't fit into any category.
- fit with something The words fit perfectly with the music.
- fit something The facts certainly fit your theory.
- to fit a description/profile
- The punishment ought to fit the crime.
- We tailor our programs to fit their needs.
- Most organizations do not fit this model.
- fit something to something We should fit the punishment to the crime.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb2- He fit the perfect model for a swimmer.
- I was told that I didn't fit the criteria.
- She fitted the description Travis had given me of her perfectly.
- Exploratory techniques are extremely well fitted to sociolinguistic research.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- perfectly
- seamlessly
- for
- with
- [transitive] (especially British English) to make somebody/something suitable for a particular job or situation
- fit somebody/something for something His experience fitted him perfectly for the job.
- fit somebody/something to something She was well fitted to the role of tragic heroine.
- fit somebody/something to do something His experience fitted him to do the job.
- Natural selection will see to it that animals are well fitted to survive in their environment.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- perfectly
- seamlessly
- for
- with
see also fitted
right size/type
put something somewhere
agree/match
make suitable
Word Originverb late Middle English: of unknown origin.
Idioms
See fit in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee fit in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishanswer/fit/match a description (of somebody/something)
- to be like a particular person or thing
- A child answering the description of the missing boy was found safe and well in London yesterday.
- We're all looking for quick, healthy meals, and pasta fits this description.
Extra Examples- A man fitting your description was seen entering the building.
- I realized to my horror that the description of the killer could fit me.
- Police have arrested two men matching the descriptions of the robbers.
somebody’s face fits/doesn’t fit
- (British English) used to say that somebody will/will not get a particular job or position because they have/do not have the appearance, personality, etc. that the employer wants, even when this should not be important
- If your face fits, you'll get the job.
- It doesn't matter how well qualified you are; if your face doesn't fit, you don't stand a chance.
fill/fit the bill
- to be what is needed in a particular situation or for a particular purpose
- On paper, several of the applicants fit the bill.
fit (somebody) like a glove
- to be the perfect size or shape for somebody
- The dress fits me like a glove.
if the shoe fits (, wear it) (North American English)
(British English if the cap fits (, wear it))
- if you feel that a remark applies to you, you should accept it and take it as a warning or criticism
Check pronunciation:
fit