befit

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /bɪˈfɪt/ UK /bɪˈfɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to be appropriate or suitable for

Such modesty does not befit a man of his accomplishments.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to be appropriate or... suit become fit behoove beseem accord

Opposites

clashmismatch

Word family

Derived forms befittingbefittinglybefitted

Related forms fit

Etymology

From the intensive prefix be- + fit. The adjective/verb fit is of uncertain Middle English origin, perhaps related to a sense of 'arranging, marshalling'.

be- Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# befit

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /bɪˈfɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈfɪt/

## Meanings
1. to be appropriate or suitable for

## Examples
- Such modesty does not befit a man of his accomplishments.

## Synonyms
- suit
- become
- fit
- behoove
- beseem
- accord

## Antonyms
- clash
- mismatch

## Derived Forms
- befitting
- befittingly
- befitted

## Related Forms
- fit

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: be-

## Etymology
From the intensive prefix be- + fit. The adjective/verb fit is of uncertain Middle English origin, perhaps related to a sense of 'arranging, marshalling'.

## AI Etymology
Befit is a verb meaning "to be appropriate or suitable for". Historically, it is from the intensive prefix be- + fit. The adjective/verb fit is of uncertain Middle English origin, perhaps related to a sense of 'arranging, marshalling'. The visible construction is part of the etymology: befit is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The semantic history matters here: the earlier use is the starting point, and the modern sense, "to be appropriate or suitable for", is the later or specialized English value. The historical chain is anchored in Old English be-. Close English family members include befitting, befittingly, befitted, and fit.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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