Fit vs. Meet — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 8, 2024
Fit involves suitability or appropriateness for a specific purpose or condition, while meet refers to coming into the presence of someone or something, often to fulfill a requirement.
Difference Between Fit and Meet
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fit is primarily about how well something matches, suits, or is appropriate for a particular purpose, need, or situation. This could relate to physical dimensions, compatibility, or suitability based on criteria. Whereas meet is about encountering or coming into the presence of someone or something. It can also refer to fulfilling or satisfying a condition, requirement, or standard.
Fit can also describe the process of adjusting or tailoring something to make it suitable. This might involve modifying clothing to match someone's body measurements or adjusting components to work together seamlessly. On the other hand, meet often implies a deliberate action or event where two or more parties come together, which could be for discussion, competition, or social interaction.
In the context of personal well-being, fit often relates to physical health and wellness, suggesting a state of being in good health, especially due to regular physical exercise. Meet, in contrast, has no direct association with health but can refer to achieving goals or standards, such as "meet the requirements" or "meet expectations."
When talking about relationships or social contexts, to fit in is about being compatible or comfortable within a group or situation, emphasizing harmony and acceptance. Whereas to meet can simply mean to make the acquaintance of someone for the first time or to gather with known individuals, focusing on the act of coming together rather than compatibility.
In the professional or business realm, fit might be used to describe the appropriateness of a candidate for a job role, considering skills, personality, and culture. Meet, in this setting, could refer to the act of engaging with colleagues, clients, or stakeholders, focusing on the interaction rather than suitability.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Suitability or appropriateness for a purpose.
Coming into presence or fulfilling a requirement.
Context
Can be physical, situational, or subjective.
Often implies an interaction or achievement.
Usage
Describes compatibility, health, or adjustment.
Refers to encounters, fulfillment of criteria.
Association
Commonly linked with health, compatibility.
Tied to gatherings, achievements, standards.
Objective
To match, adjust, or be suitable.
To encounter, gather, or satisfy conditions.
Compare with Definitions
Fit
Suitable for a specific purpose.
This jacket is a perfect fit for chilly weather.
Meet
To come into the presence of.
We will meet at the café.
Fit
In good physical condition.
Running daily keeps me fit.
Meet
To encounter by chance.
I met an old friend in the market.
Fit
Matching well with a group or situation.
She fits in well with the team.
Meet
To face or confront.
Meet challenges head-on.
Fit
Compatibility of elements.
These pieces fit together perfectly.
Meet
To assemble or gather.
The board will meet next Tuesday.
Fit
Adjusted to suit requirements.
The dress was fitted to her measurements.
Meet
To fulfill or satisfy.
This solution meets our needs.
Fit
Of a suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose
The house was not fit for human habitation
Is the water clean and fit to drink?
Meet
To come into the presence of by chance or arrangement
I was surprised to meet an old friend in the park. I met a friend for coffee.
Fit
In good health, especially because of regular physical exercise
The measures would ensure a leaner, fitter company
My family keep fit by walking and cycling
Meet
To come into the company of
I met my colleagues for a meeting.
Fit
Be of the right shape and size for
Those jeans still fit me
The shoes fitted better after being stretched
Meet
To be introduced to; make the acquaintance of
Have you met my wife?.
Fit
Install or fix (something) into place
They fitted smoke alarms to their home
Meet
To come together or confront in opposition
The rival teams meet next week.
Fit
Be compatible or in agreement with; match
The landlord had not seen anyone fitting that description
Meet
To be present at the arrival of
Met the train.
Fit
Have an epileptic fit
He started fitting uncontrollably
Meet
To come into conjunction with; join or touch
Where the road meets the highway.
Fit
The particular way in which something, especially a garment or component, fits
The dress was a perfect fit
Meet
To come into conformity with the views, wishes, or opinions of
The firm has done its best to meet us on that point.
Fit
A sudden attack of convulsions and/or loss of consciousness, typical of epilepsy and some other medical conditions
The child had frequent fits
Meet
To come to the notice of (the senses)
There is more here than meets the eye.
Fit
A sudden short period of uncontrollable coughing, laughter, etc.
Meet
To experience or undergo
He met his fate with courage. The project has met a setback.
Fit
A section of a poem.
Meet
To be sufficient for (a need, for example); fulfill
Meet all the conditions in the contract.
Fit
To be the proper size and shape for
These shoes fit me.
Meet
To deal or contend with effectively
We can meet each problem as it arises.
Fit
To cause to be the proper size and shape
The tailor fitted the trousers by shortening them.
Meet
To pay; settle
Enough money to meet expenses.
Fit
To measure for proper size
She fitted me for a new jacket.
Meet
To come together
Didn't recognize him when we met. Where should we meet for lunch?.
Fit
To be appropriate to; suit
Music that fits your mood.
Meet
To come into conjunction; be joined
The two pipes meet in the corner.
Fit
To be in conformity or agreement with
Observations that fit the theory nicely.
Meet
To come together as opponents; contend
The team met with its rival.
Fit
To make suitable; adapt
Fitted the shelves for large books.
Meet
To become introduced
Where did the two of you meet?.
Fit
To make ready; prepare
Specialized training fitted her for the job.
Meet
To assemble
Protesters met in the square.
Fit
To equip; outfit
Fit out a ship.
Meet
To occur together, especially in one person or entity
Suspense and intrigue meet in this new movie.
Fit
To provide a place or time for
You can't fit any more toys in the box. The doctor can fit you in today.
Meet
A meeting or contest, especially an athletic competition.
Fit
To insert or adjust so as to be properly in place
Fit a handle on a door.
Meet
Fitting; proper
"It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place" (Shakespeare).
Fit
To be the proper size and shape.
Meet
To make contact (with) while in proximity.
Fit
To be suited; belong
Doesn't fit in with these people.
Meet
To come face to face with by accident; to encounter.
Fancy meeting you here! Guess who I met at the supermarket today?
Fit
To be in harmony; agree
His good mood fit in with the joyful occasion.
Meet
To come face to face with someone by arrangement.
Let's meet at the station at 9 o'clock.
Fit
Suited, adapted, or acceptable for a given circumstance or purpose
Not a fit time for flippancy.
Meet
To get acquainted with someone.
I'm pleased to meet you! I'd like you to meet a colleague of mine.
I met my husband through a mutual friend at a party. It wasn't love at first sight; in fact, we couldn't stand each other at first!
Fit
Appropriate; proper
Do as you see fit.
Meet
(Of groups) To come together.
Fit
Physically sound; healthy
Keeps fit with diet and exercise.
Meet
To gather for a formal or social discussion; to hold a meeting.
I met with them several times. The government ministers met today to start the negotiations.
Fit
(Biology) Able to survive and produce viable offspring in a particular environment
Meet
To come together in conflict.
Fit
The state, quality, or way of being fitted
The proper fit of means to ends.
Meet
(sports) To play a match.
England and Holland will meet in the final.
Fit
The manner in which clothing fits
A jacket with a tight fit.
Meet
To make physical or perceptual contact.
Fit
The degree of precision with which surfaces are adjusted or adapted to each other in a machine or collection of parts.
Meet
To converge and finally touch or intersect.
The two streets meet at a crossroad half a mile away.
Fit
A seizure or convulsion, especially one caused by epilepsy.
Meet
To touch or hit something while moving.
The right wing of the car met the column in the garage, leaving a dent.
Fit
A sudden physical outburst
A fit of coughing.
A fit of laughter.
Meet
To adjoin, be physically touching.
The carpet meets the wall at this side of the room. The forest meets the sea along this part of the coast.
Fit
A sudden, involuntary physical reaction
A fit of shivering.
A fit of cramps.
Meet
(transitive) To respond to (an argument etc.) with something equally convincing; to refute.
He met every objection to the trip with another reason I should go.
Fit
A sudden, involuntary mental experience
A fit of amnesia.
A fit of déjà vu.
Meet
To satisfy; to comply with.
This proposal meets my requirements. The company agrees to meet the cost of any repairs.
Fit
A sudden outburst of emotion
A fit of jealousy.
Meet
(intransitive) To balance or come out correct.
Fit
A sudden period of vigorous activity.
Meet
To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer.
The eye met a horrid sight. He met his fate.
Fit
A section of a poem or ballad.
Meet
To be mixed with, to be combined with aspects of.
Fit
Suitable, proper.
You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit.
Meet
(sports) A sports competition, especially for track and field or swimming.
Track meet
Swim meet
Fit
Adapted to a purpose or environment.
Survival of the fittest
Meet
(hunting) A gathering of riders, horses and hounds for foxhunting; a field meet for hunting.
Fit
In good shape; physically well.
You don't have to be a good climber for Kilimanjaro, but you do have to be fit.
Meet
(rail transport) A meeting of two trains in opposite directions on a single track, when one is put into a siding to let the other cross.
Fit
Prepared; ready.
Meet
(informal) A meeting.
OK, let's arrange a meet with Tyler and ask him.
Fit
(transitive) To be suitable for.
It fits the purpose.
Meet
(algebra) The greatest lower bound, an operation between pairs of elements in a lattice, denoted by the symbol ∧.
Fit
(intransitive) To have sufficient space available at some location to be able to be there.
Ten clowns fit in the car, but not a hundred.
A grain of sand will fit in the cave, but an elephant will not.
Meet
(archaic) Suitable; right; proper.
Fit
(transitive) To conform to in size and shape.
The small shirt doesn't fit me, so I'll buy the medium size.
If I lose a few kilos, the gorgeous wedding dress might fit me.
Meet
To join, or come in contact with; esp., to come in contact with by approach from an opposite direction; to come upon or against, front to front, as distinguished from contact by following and overtaking.
Fit
(intransitive) To be of the right size and shape
I wanted to borrow my little sister's jeans, but they didn't fit.
That plug fit into the other socket, but it won't go in this one.
Meet
To come in collision with; to confront in conflict; to encounter hostilely; as, they met the enemy and defeated them; the ship met opposing winds and currents.
Fit
To make conform in size and shape.
I want to fit the drapes to the windows.
Meet
To come into the presence of without contact; to come close to; to intercept; to come within the perception, influence, or recognition of; as, to meet a train at a junction; to meet carriages or persons in the street; to meet friends at a party; sweet sounds met the ear.
His daughter came out to meet him.
Fit
(transitive) To tailor; to change to the appropriate size.
I had a suit fitted by the tailor.
Meet
To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer; as, the eye met a horrid sight; he met his fate.
Of vice or virtue, whether blest or curst,Which meets contempt, or which compassion first.
Fit
(transitive) To be in agreement with.
These definitions fit most of the usage.
Meet
To come up to; to be even with; to equal; to match; to satisfy; to ansver; as, to meet one's expectations; the supply meets the demand.
Fit
(transitive) To adjust.
The regression program fit a line to the data.
Meet
To come together by mutual approach; esp., to come in contact, or into proximity, by approach from opposite directions; to join; to come face to face; to come in close relationship; as, we met in the street; two lines meet so as to form an angle.
O, when meet nowSuch pairs in love and mutual honor joined !
Fit
(transitive) To attach, especially when requiring exact positioning or sizing.
Meet
To come together with hostile purpose; to have an encounter or conflict.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,May serve to better us and worse our foes.
Fit
(transitive) To equip or supply.
The chandler will fit us with provisions for a month.
Meet
To assemble together; to congregate; as, Congress meets on the first Monday of December.
They . . . appointed a day to meet together.
Fit
(transitive) To make ready.
I'm fitting the ship for a summer sail home.
Meet
To come together by mutual concessions; hence, to agree; to harmonize; to unite.
We met with many things worthy of observation.
Prepare to meet with more than brutal furyFrom the fierce prince.
Fit
To be seemly.
Meet
An assembling together; esp., the assembling of huntsmen for the hunt; also, the persons who so assemble, and the place of meeting.
Fit
To be proper or becoming.
Meet
Suitable; fit; proper; appropriate; qualified; convenient.
It was meet that we should make merry.
Fit
(intransitive) To be in harmony.
The paint, the fabrics, the rugs all fit.
Meet
Meetly.
Fit
To suffer a fit.
Meet
A meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
Fit
Fight; fought.
Meet
Come together;
I'll probably see you at the meeting
How nice to see you again!
Fit
The degree to which something fits.
This shirt is a bad fit.
Since he put on weight, his jeans have been a tight fit.
Meet
Get together socially or for a specific purpose
Fit
Conformity of elements one to another.
It's hard to get a good fit using second-hand parts.
Meet
Be adjacent or come together;
The lines converge at this point
Fit
The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.
Meet
Fill or meet a want or need
Fit
(advertising) Measure of how well a particular commercial execution captures the character or values of a brand.
The Wonder Bread advertising research results showed the “White Picket Fence” commercial had strong fit ratings.
Meet
Satisfy a condition or restriction;
Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?
Fit
(statistics) Goodness of fit.
Meet
Satisfy or fulfill;
Meet a need
This job doesn't match my dreams
Fit
(bridge) The quality of a partnership's combined holding of cards in a suit, particularly of trump.
During the auction, it is often a partnership's goal to find an eight-card major suit fit.
Meet
Get to know; get acquainted with;
I met this really handsome guy at a bar last night!
We met in Singapore
Fit
(archaic) A section of a poem or ballad.
Meet
Collect in one place;
We assembled in the church basement
Let's gather in the dining room
Fit
A seizure or convulsion.
My grandfather died after having a fit.
Meet
Meet by design; be present at the arrival of;
Can you meet me at the train station?
Fit
(medicine) A sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom over a short period of time.
Meet
Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle;
Princeton plays Yale this weekend
Charlie likes to play Mary
Fit
A sudden outburst of emotion.
He had a laughing fit which lasted more than ten minutes.
She had a fit and threw all of his clothes out through the window.
He threw a fit when his car broke down.
Meet
Experience as a reaction;
My proposal met with much opposition
Fit
A sudden burst (of an activity).
Meet
Undergo or suffer;
Meet a violent death
Suffer a terrible fate
Fit
(informal) An outfit, a set of clothing.
How do you like the fit?
Meet
Be in direct physical contact with; make contact;
The two buildings touch
Their hands touched
The wire must not contact the metal cover
The surfaces contact at this point
Fit
In Old English, a song; a strain; a canto or portion of a ballad; a passus.
To play some pleasant fit.
Meet
Being precisely fitting and right;
It is only meet that she should be seated first
Fit
The quality of being fit; adjustment; adaptedness; as of dress to the person of the wearer.
Fit
The coincidence of parts that come in contact.
Fit
A stroke or blow.
Curse on that cross, quoth then the Sarazin,That keeps thy body from the bitter fit.
Fit
A sudden and violent attack of a disorder; a stroke of disease, as of epilepsy or apoplexy, which produces convulsions or unconsciousness; a convulsion; a paroxysm; hence, a period of exacerbation of a disease; in general, an attack of disease; as, a fit of sickness.
And when the fit was on him, I did markHow he did shake.
Fit
A mood of any kind which masters or possesses one for a time; a temporary, absorbing affection; a paroxysm; as, a fit of melancholy, of passion, or of laughter.
All fits of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain.
The English, however, were on this subject prone to fits of jealously.
Fit
A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity, or motion, followed by relaxation or inaction; an impulsive and irregular action.
The fits of the season.
Fit
A darting point; a sudden emission.
A tongue of light, a fit of flame.
Fit
Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by art; suited by character, qualitties, circumstances, education, etc.; qualified; competent; worthy.
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in.
Fit audience find, though few.
Fit
Prepared; ready.
So fit to shoot, she singled forth amongher foes who first her quarry's strength should feel.
Fit
Conformed to a standart of duty, properiety, or taste; convenient; meet; becoming; proper.
Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked?
Fit
To make fit or suitable; to adapt to the purpose intended; to qualify; to put into a condition of readiness or preparation.
The time is fitted for the duty.
The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature.
Fit
To bring to a required form and size; to shape aright; to adapt to a model; to adjust; - said especially of the work of a carpenter, machinist, tailor, etc.
The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes.
Fit
To supply with something that is suitable or fit, or that is shaped and adjusted to the use required.
No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves.
Fit
To be suitable to; to answer the requirements of; to be correctly shaped and adjusted to; as, if the coat fits you, put it on.
That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions.
That time best fits the work.
Fit
To be proper or becoming.
Nor fits it to prolong the feast.
Fit
To be adjusted to a particular shape or size; to suit; to be adapted; as, his coat fits very well.
Fit
A display of bad temper;
He had a fit
She threw a tantrum
He made a scene
Fit
A sudden uncontrollable attack;
A paroxysm of giggling
A fit of coughing
Convulsions of laughter
Fit
The manner in which something fits;
I admired the fit of her coat
Fit
A sudden flurry of activity (often for no obvious reason);
A burst of applause
A fit of housecleaning
Fit
Be agreeable or acceptable to;
This suits my needs
Fit
Be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired;
This piece won't fit into the puzzle
Fit
Satisfy a condition or restriction;
Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?
Fit
Make fit;
Fit a dress
He fitted other pieces of paper to his cut-out
Fit
Insert or adjust several objects or people;
Can you fit the toy into the box?
This man can't fit himself into our work environment
Fit
Be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics;
The two stories don't agree in many details
The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
Fit
Conform to some shape or size;
How does this shirt fit?
Fit
Provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose;
The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities
Fit
Make correspond or harmonize;
Match my sweater
Fit
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
Fit
(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
Fit
Physically and mentally sound or healthy;
Felt relaxed and fit after their holiday
Keeps fit with diet and exercise
Common Curiosities
Can fit and meet be used interchangeably?
No, they serve different contexts; fit relates to suitability, while meet is about encountering or fulfilling.
What does it mean for something to fit?
It means that something is suitable or appropriate for a specific purpose, situation, or requirement.
What does it mean to fit into a group?
It means to be compatible or comfortable within a social setting or community.
What does it mean to meet standards?
It means to fulfill or satisfy set criteria or requirements.
How does fit relate to physical health?
Fit often describes being in good physical condition, especially due to exercise.
What does "meet and greet" mean?
It refers to an arranged gathering where people can come together to meet and talk.
How can one ensure a good fit for a job?
By matching skills, experience, and personality with the job requirements and company culture.
What does it mean to meet someone?
It means to come into the presence of someone, often for the first time or as arranged.
Is it important for clothes to fit?
Yes, for comfort, appearance, and functionality, clothes should fit well.
Can fit have multiple meanings?
Yes, it can refer to suitability, physical condition, or compatibility, among others.
Can meet refer to satisfying requirements?
Yes, it can imply fulfilling or meeting a set of conditions or standards.
What does it mean to meet a deadline?
It means to complete or fulfill a task by a specified time.
How do you know if something fits?
Through assessment of size, compatibility, or suitability for its intended use.
Can an object meet another object?
In a metaphorical sense, yes, especially if two parts come together or fit precisely.
Is meeting someone always planned?
No, it can be either planned or happen by chance.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
