# fit out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fit-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To provide a room or building with all the furniture and equipment it needs to be ready for use.

For teachers: To provide a space, building, or vessel with the necessary equipment, furnishings, or fittings. Transitive and often used in commercial or maritime contexts.

## Examples

- The owners are fitting out the new café with wooden tables.
- The construction crew worked through the night to fit out the new department store before the holiday shopping season began.
- Once the structural renovations were finalized, the interior designers were commissioned to fit out the penthouse with bespoke furniture and high-end appliances.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The company will fit out of the new laboratory." but "The company will fit out the new laboratory." — The verb is transitive and takes the space being equipped as a direct object without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is frequently used in business contexts when discussing new shops or offices.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'furnish', which focuses only on furniture, whereas 'fit out' includes technical equipment and structural fixtures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.