What does "fitting" mean?
gerund of fit: an act of making something fit (“conform in shape and size; be suitable for; etc.”).
Fitting
/ˈfɪtɪŋ/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: gerund of fit: an act of making something fit (“conform in shape and size; be suitable for; etc.”).
- Grammar: fitting is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: adjustment, appointment, a good fit, a propos.
- Useful contrasts: inopportune, inapposite, inapt.
- Usage evidence: It is not fitting for a teacher to overly favor certain pupils over others.
How to use "fitting"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fitting" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fitting" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fitting" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fitting" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fitting" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adjustment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fitting", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 gerund of fit: an act of making something fit (“conform in shape and size; be suitable for; etc.”). countable, form-of, gerund
"As soon as we received our orders to proceed to Spithead, Mr. Somerville, who had kept his house at Blackheath while the ship was fitting, in hopes that my promotion might have taken place before she was ready, now prepared to quit the place."
- 2 gerund of fit: the action or condition of having one or more fits (“convulsions or seizures”). form-of, gerund, uncountable
"Since her medication was changed, her fitting has got worse."
- 3 putting clothes on to see whether they fit wordnet
- 4 gerund of fit: an act of making something fit (“conform in shape and size; be suitable for; etc.”).; An act of trying on an item of clothing to adjust or inspect how well it fits. countable, uncountable
- 5 (usually in the plural) furnishings and equipment (especially for a ship or hotel) wordnet
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A (generally small) component or part of a device or machine, especially one that is standardized and replaceable; specifically, a standardized part of a piping system used to connect sections of pipe together, such as a coupling. countable
- 7 a small and often standardized accessory to a larger system wordnet
- 8 The process of fitting up; especially, of applying skilled methods to the installation of components to machines or other products. uncountable
- 9 making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances wordnet
- 10 A removable item (such as a carpet, a movable piece of furniture, or a picture) in a house or other building, which can be taken with one when moving out. UK, countable, in-plural, often
"the fittings of a church or study"
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of fit form-of, gerund, participle, present
Adjective
- 1 That fits.; Chiefly preceded by a descriptive adverb or noun: that fits in some manner (often closely) to the shape or size of something.
"close-fitting form-fitting ill-fitting"
- 2 That fits.; Appropriate, suitable, proper. figuratively
"O my ſvveet ſir, nevves fitting to the night, / Blacke, fearefull, comfortleſſe, and horrible."
Adjective
- 1 being precisely fitting and right wordnet
- 2 in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"It is not fitting for a teacher to overly favor certain pupils over others."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fitting"?
Common synonyms include: adjustment, appointment, a good fit, a propos, about face, about-face.
How do you use "fitting" in a sentence?
It is not fitting for a teacher to overly favor certain pupils over others.
How do you pronounce "fitting"?
Pronounced /ˈfɪtɪŋ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From fit (“to conform to in shape or size; to be suitable for”, verb) + -ing (suffix forming present participles of verbs, and gerunds and nouns denoting the act of doing something or the embodiment of an action).
Etymology 2
From fit (“to suffer a fit (‘convulsion, seizure’)”, verb) + -ing (suffix forming gerunds and nouns denoting the act of doing something or the embodiment of an action).