suit

1 of 2

noun

ˈsüt 

1

: a set of garments: such as

a

: an ensemble of two or more usually matching outer garments (such as a jacket, vest, and trousers)

businessmen wearing three-piece suits

b

: a costume to be worn for a special purpose or under particular conditions

gym suits

2

a

: an action or process in a court for the recovery of a right or claim

b

: recourse or appeal to a feudal superior for justice or redress

3

a

: all the playing cards in a pack bearing the same symbol

b

: all the dominoes bearing the same number

c

: all the cards or counters in a particular suit held by one player

a 5-card suit

d

: the suit led

follow suit

4

slang : a business executive

—usually used in plural

5

: a group of things forming a unit : suite

—used chiefly of armor, sails, and counters in games

6

: an act or instance of suing or seeking by entreaty : appeal

specifically : courtship

7

archaic : suite sense 1

suited

ˈsü-təd 

adjective

suit

2 of 2

verb

suited; suiting; suits

transitive verb

1

: to meet the needs or desires of : please

suits me fine

2

a

: to be proper for : befit

a mood that suits the occasion

b

: to be becoming to

that dress suits you

3

: to outfit with clothes : dress

4

: accommodate, adapt

suit the action to the word

intransitive verb

1

: to put on specially required clothing (such as a uniform or protective garb)

—usually used with up

players suiting up for the game

2

: to be in accordance : agree

the position suits with your abilities

3

: to be appropriate or satisfactory

these prices don't suit

Synonyms

Noun

• action
• lawsuit
• proceeding

Verb

• befit
• beseem [archaic]
• do
• fit [archaic]
• go
• serve

Examples of suit in a Sentence

Noun

He wore his gray suit to the job interview.

filed a suit against the company that had manufactured the faulty heater, claiming they were responsible for the fire

Verb

This kind of behavior hardly suits a person of your age.

She gave a serious speech that suited the occasion.

The formal furniture really suited the style of the house.

The job suits her very well.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Although the Supreme Court dismissed a case in June that sought to restrict access to mifepristone, the attorneys general of Idaho, Kansas and Missouri filed a similar suit last month. —Randi Richardson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024

The blacks of suits in the party scenes look dark while still retaining their cuts and contours, and the whites of lights and balloons are properly bright. —PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024

Verb

The cigars pair with high-end spirits such as Macallan single malt whiskeys and Louis XIII cognac, which are suited to each guest’s tastes and delivered to the mega-suites. —Melinda Sheckells, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

While there’s more to explore out on the terrace, the home’s interiors also offer five bedrooms and a number of living areas suited to families and health enthusiasts alike. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sute, seute pursuit, retinue, set, legal action, from Anglo-French siute, suite, from Vulgar Latin *sequita, from feminine of *sequitus, past participle of *sequere to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing suit

• bathing suit
• birthday suit
• bunny suit
• business suit
• counter-suit
• dinner suit
• diving suit
• dry suit
• empty suit
• file/bring (a) suit
• flight suit
• follow suit
• G suit
• jogging suit
• leisure suit
• long suit
• lounge suit
• major suit
• minor suit
• moon suit
• pants suit
• pressure suit
• safari suit
• sailor suit
• shell suit
• SLAPP suit
• space suit
• strong suit
• suit every pocket
• suit every pocketbook
• suit oneself
• suit (someone) down to the ground
• suit someone's book
• suit up
• sweat suit
• tank suit
• three-piece suit
• trouser suit
• two-piece suit
• union suit
• wet suit
• zoot suit

Kids Definition

suit

1 of 2 noun

ˈsüt 

1

: an action or process in a court for enforcing a right or claim

2

: an act or instance of requesting earnestly

especially : courtship

3

: a number of things used together : set

4

a

: an outer costume of two or more pieces

b

: a costume to be worn for a special purpose or under particular conditions

gym suit

5

a

: all the cards of one kind (as spades or hearts) in a pack of playing cards

b

: all the dominoes bearing the same number

suit

2 of 2 verb

1

: to outfit with clothes : dress

2

: to make suitable : adapt

suit the action to the word

3

a

: to be proper for

a mood that suits the occasion

b

: to be becoming to

that dress suits you

4

: to meet the needs or desires of : please

suits me fine

5

: to be in accordance : agree

the job suits with your abilities

6

: to be appropriate or satisfactory

these prices do not suit

Medical Definition

suit

see g suit, pressure suit

Legal Definition

suit

noun

: a proceeding to enforce a right or claim

specifically : an action brought in a court seeking a remedy for injuries suffered or a determination of rights : lawsuit

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French siute, suite, suit request to initiate legal proceedings, literally, pursuit, from siute, feminine past participle of suire to follow, from Old French sivre see sue