fit in

English

Verb

fit in (third-person singular simple present fits in, present participle fitting in, simple past fit in or fitted in, past participle fit in)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To fit physically into a place.
2. (figurative, transitive) To find or make a place for:
   1. To designate a job, role, or task for.

      Just show up ready for work, and they'll fit you in no matter what your skills are.

   2. To incorporate into a schedule; to create an appointment, slot, or time for.

      Synonym: work in

      The dentist said he can't fit me in until Thursday.

      I don't have time to work on your house today, but I'll fit it in tomorrow.

3. (figurative, intransitive) To be of a like type with others; (especially) to be socially accepted.

   Antonym: stick out

   Synonym: belong

   The recluse did not fit in at the party.

   • 1988 March 21, Heart of Glory (Star Trek: The Next Generation) (Science Fiction), Paramount Domestic Television, →OCLC:

     KORRIS: They shunned you. Cursed you. Called you vile names, and you knew not why. Even now do you know why you are driven? Why you cannot relent -- or repent -- or confess -- or abstain? How could you know? There have been no other Klingons to lead you to that knowledge.
     WORF: Yes -- yes -- those feelings are still a part of me, but I control them. They do not rule me.
     KORRIS: Yes, to fit in, the humans demand you change the one thing that you cannot change. But because you cannot -- you do. That too is the mark of the warrior.

   • 2011, Dia Frampton (lyrics and music), “The Broken Ones”, in Red‎^[1], performed by Dia Frampton:

     And oh, maybe I see a part of me in them / The missing piece, always trying to fit in / The shattered heart, hungry for a home / No, you're not alone / I love the broken ones

   • 2014 August 29, Ruzwana Bashir, “The untold story of how a culture of shame perpetuates abuse. I know, I was a victim”, in The Guardian:

     At 18 I was fortunate enough to receive an offer to study at Oxford University. I was enthralled with the exciting new world around me and tried desperately to fit in.

4. (followed by with) To conform to or suit.

   I'm afraid that does not fit in with our plans.

Synonyms

• squeeze in, squeeze into, fit into

Translations

be physically capable of going into a space

• Assamese: আট (at)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: sopia (fi)
• German: hineinpassen (de)
• Ingrian: soppia, mahtua
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can

be confident in a social situation

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Finnish: sopeutua (fi)
• French: intégrer (fr)
• Italian: inserirsi (it)
• Spanish: encajar (es)

Anagrams

• infit