Befitting — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /bi-ˈfi-tiŋ/ be·fit·ting

Meaning & Definition of Befitting

Befitting (adjective)

  1. suitable, appropriate
  2. proper, decent

Befitting (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. following the established traditions of refined society and good taste

    "many voters feel that the womanizing governor has not acted in a befitting manner for someone who serves as the state's chief executive"

    similar: correct, de rigueur, decent, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly
    related: acceptable, adequate, satisfactory, tolerable, dress, dressy, formal, dignified, elegant, gracious, priggish, prim, stiff, stuffy, apt, material, relevant, compatible, congenial, harmonious, allowed, authorized, kosher, permitted
    opposite: improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, ungenteel, unseemly
    near: intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, casual, grungy, informal, seedy, shabby, tacky, banned, barred, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, awkward, gauche, ungraceful

  2. meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation

    "a befitting reply to a civil question"

    similar: applicable, appropriate, apt, becoming, felicitous, fit, fitted, fitting, good, happy, meet, pretty, proper, right, suitable, in order
    related: condign, deserved, just, justified, needed, required, requisite, able, capable, competent, cut out, qualified, trained, pitch-perfect, acceptable, adequate, decent, kosher, satisfactory, serviceable, tolerable, correct, decorous, respectable, seemly, balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious, rightful
    opposite: improper, inapplicable, inapposite, inappropriate, inapt, incongruous, indecent, infelicitous, malapropos, misbecoming, unapt, unbecoming, unbeseeming, unfit, unfitting, unhappy, unmeet, unseemly, unsuitable, wrong
    near: incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful, untrained, inadequate, intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, graceless, incorrect, indecorous, incompatible, uncongenial

Befitting (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be fitting or proper

    "spoke politely of the deceased, as befitted the occasion"

    similar: beseeming (archaic), doing, fitting (archaic), going, serving, suiting, filling the bill
    related: satisfying, sufficing, functioning, working

Related Entry: Befit (verb)

Befit is a different word from Befitting. The synonyms below are for befit, not for befitting.

  1. to be fitting or proper

    "spoke politely of the deceased, as befitted the occasion"

    similar: beseem (archaic), do, fit (archaic), go, serve, suit, fill the bill
    related: satisfy, suffice, function, work

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Befitting

The most common words with a similar meaning to Befitting:

Archaic: beseeming, fitting
correct, de rigueur, decent, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly, applicable, appropriate, apt, becoming, felicitous, fit, fitted, good, happy, meet, pretty, right, suitable, in order, doing, going, serving, suiting, filling the bill

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Befitting

Words with the opposite meaning of Befitting:

improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming, ungenteel, unseemly, inapplicable, inapposite, inapt, incongruous, infelicitous, malapropos, misbecoming, unapt, unbeseeming, unfit, unfitting, unhappy, unmeet, unsuitable, wrong

Related Words for Befitting

acceptable, adequate, satisfactory, tolerable, dress, dressy, formal, dignified, elegant, gracious, priggish, prim, stiff, stuffy, material, relevant, compatible, congenial, harmonious, allowed, authorized, kosher, permitted, condign, deserved, just, justified, needed, required, requisite

Near Antonyms of Befitting

intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory, casual, grungy, informal, seedy, shabby, tacky, banned, barred, disallowed, forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, awkward, gauche, ungraceful, incapable, incompetent, inept, inexpert, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful, untrained, inadequate, graceless

Word Forms of Befitting

Derived words: befittingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Befitting

First known use: circa 1612

Frequently Asked Questions about Befitting

What does "Befitting" mean?

"Befitting" means suitable, appropriate. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: suitable, appropriate. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Befitting"?

Other words for "Befitting" include correct, de rigueur, decent, decorous, genteel, nice, polite and proper. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Befitting" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Befitting"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Befitting". Common alternatives include correct, de rigueur, decent, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable and seemly.

What is the opposite of "Befitting"?

Antonyms of "Befitting" include improper, inappropriate, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, unbecoming and ungenteel. Near antonyms include intolerable, unacceptable, unsatisfactory and casual.

How do you use "Befitting" in a sentence?

Examples of "Befitting" in a sentence: "many voters feel that the womanizing governor has not acted in a befitting manner for someone who serves as the state's chief executive"; "a befitting reply to a civil question"; "spoke politely of the deceased, as befitted the occasion".

Is "Befitting" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Befitting" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Befitting"?

"Befitting" is pronounced /bi-ˈfi-tiŋ/ and divided into syllables as be·fit·ting.

What is the origin of the word "Befitting"?

First known use: circa 1612.