Fit in meaning
Fit in means to feel happy and accepted in a group. It can also mean to find time to see someone or do something.
fit in
fit in · fitted · fitting
It took me a year to fit in at my new school.
Fit in meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Feel happy and accepted in a group
fit in
- It took me a year to fit in at my new school.
- She fits in well with the rest of the team.
- I never really fitted in in the city.
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2
Find time to see someone or do something
fit somebody or something in
- The doctor can fit you in at four.
- I don’t know how she fits in work, study and kids.
- Can we fit in a quick coffee before the film?
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3
Have enough space for someone or something
fit something in
- Can you fit one more person in the car?
- The suitcase is full. Nothing else will fit in.
- We couldn’t fit the sofa in, so we sold it.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use fit in in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is fit in separable?
When it means belong, fit in has no object: I fit in here. Add with for the group: fit in with my new colleagues. When it means find time or space, it is separable: fit you in, fit it in.
In UK English the past is fitted in; in US English it is fit in. Fit into is used with the place or container: fit into a box, fit into the team.
Verb tenses for fit in
| Present | I fit in · she fits in |
|---|---|
| Past | fitted in |
| Present perfect | have fitted in (US: have fit in) |
| -ing form | fitting in |
Common mistakes with fit in
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I don’t fit in this group of friends.
Right: I don’t fit in with this group of friends.
Use fit in with + people, or fit into + group.
Wrong: The dentist can fit in you on Tuesday.
Right: The dentist can fit you in on Tuesday.
A pronoun goes between fit and in.
Wrong: These jeans don’t fit in me any more.
Right: These jeans don’t fit me any more.
For clothes and size, just use fit.
Synonyms and opposites of fit in
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- belongfeel that you are in the right place
- get on withUK, have a friendly relationship with people
- squeeze infind a small amount of time or space with difficulty
Opposite
- stand outbe very different and easy to notice
- be an outsidernot be accepted in a group
Fit in quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1My new classmates are friendly, so I ___ quickly.
Fit in means feel accepted in a group.
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2Choose the right sentence.
The pronoun goes in the middle: fitted me in.
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3“Will the cake fit in the fridge?” What is the question about?
Fit in here means have enough space.
Find your level
The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.
- get inA2enter a car, a taxi, a building or a small space
- take inB2let a person or an animal live in your home
- put inA2put something inside a container, a machine or a drink
- go inA2enter a room or a building
- come inA2enter a room or building, towards the speaker
- give inB1finally agree to something after refusing
- break inB2get into a building by force, usually to steal things
- bring inB2start using a new law, rule or system
Fit in FAQ
Questions people ask about fit in.
What is the difference between fit in and fit into?
Fit in is often used alone: He fits in. Fit into needs the place or group after it: fit into the box, fit into the team.
Is it fitted in or fit in?
UK English usually says fitted in, US English says fit in for the past: I fit in well at my new job.
What does I can fit you in mean?
Shops and offices say it when they find a free time for you: We can fit you in at 3.
Use fit in in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.