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. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to be appropriate or... suitbecomefitbehoovebeseemaccord ↔ Opposites clashmismatch Word family Derived forms befittingbefittinglybefitted Related forms fit Etymology AI details 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 Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 markdown