Meaning & use
fit out
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Meanings
verbphrasal verb
To provide a place or vehicle with all the equipment, furniture or fittings it needs to be used.
Grammar: Takes an object: fit out the shop, or fit it out.
Patterns
- fit out something
- fit something out with something
They plan to fit out the new café with long wooden tables.
The ship was fitted out for a six-month voyage.
We spent the summer fitting out the van as a small home.
verbphrasal verb
To supply a person or group with the clothing and gear needed for a task.
Grammar: Takes an object: fit someone out with gear.
Patterns
- fit someone out with something
- fit someone out for something
The school fitted out each student with a uniform.
The expedition was fitted out with tents and boots.
She fitted out her son for his first hiking trip.
nouncountablebusinessBritish
The work or materials needed to prepare the inside of a building for its use, usually written fit-out.
Grammar: Countable and mostly British: a fit-out, an office fit-out.
Patterns
- the fit-out of something
The fit-out of the new offices took three months.
The restaurant's fit-out cost more than expected.
A shop fit-out includes shelves, lighting and flooring.
Word forms
| third person singular | fits out |
|---|---|
| past tense | fitted out |
| past participle | fitted out |
| -ing form | fitting out |
Common combinations
- fit out a shop
- They hired designers to fit out a shop on the high street.
- fit out an office
- We need to fit out an office for twenty people.
- fit out a ship
- The navy will fit out a ship for the expedition.
- fully fitted out
- The kitchen comes fully fitted out.
- office fit-out
- An office fit-out can take months.
Synonyms and how they differ
- equip
- is more general and works for any tool or training, not only the interior of a building.
- furnish
- focuses on furniture and decoration, while fit out also includes systems like wiring.
- kit out
- is more casual and often refers to clothes or gear.
- outfit
- is the American choice, especially for people and groups.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fit out or fit in?
fit out vs fit in
Fit in means to belong or find space; fit out means to supply and equip.
Practice
The company will ___ the empty warehouse as a modern gym.
Choose one answer.
Fit out means equip a space for a purpose. Fit in means belong or squeeze in, and the others do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fit out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.