1 B2 neutral
To supply a building, room, or vehicle with all the necessary furniture, equipment, or fittings.
"They spent three months fitting out the new restaurant before it opened."
separable
fit out
B2 neutral separable transitive
To provide a person, ship, room, or building with all the necessary equipment or furnishings.
In plain English
To give someone or something everything they need — like equipment, furniture, or supplies.
What does "fit out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To provide a person or group with clothing, tools, or equipment needed for a particular purpose.
"The army fitted out the recruits with uniforms and boots before deployment."
separable
3 C1 formal
To equip a ship with everything needed for a voyage.
"The crew worked for weeks to fit out the vessel before the Atlantic crossing."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make something fit (suited) for a purpose by supplying it with what it needs.
Actually means
To give someone or something everything they need — like equipment, furniture, or supplies.
Usage tip
Common in British English for both nautical contexts (equipping a ship) and interior design/retail (fitting out a shop). Also used for dressing or equipping a person for a specific purpose. Slightly more formal than 'kit out'.
Words that pair with "fit out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ship office shop kitchen soldiers expedition
How to conjugate "fit out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
fit out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
fits out
he/she/it
Past simple
fited out
yesterday
Past participle
fited out
have + pp
-ing form
fiting out
continuous
Hear "fit out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "fit out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "fit out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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