kit
kit — noun
1. a collection of items — such as tools, medical supplies, or materials — kept tog
a collection of items — such as tools, medical supplies, or materials — kept together so that you can use them for a particular job or activity.
Sofie bought a new tool kit to fix the shelves in her apartment.
collocation: tool kit
The first-aid kit in the car contained bandages and antiseptic cream.
collocation: first-aid kit
Every student in the art class was given a drawing kit with pencils and paper.
Christopher reached for his sewing kit when a button fell off his shirt.
collocation: sewing kit
A small survival kit can fit inside a pocket and still save your life.
collocation: survival kit
- tool kit
- first-aid kit
- sewing kit
- survival kit
- shaving kit
- repair kit
- drawing kit
- set
more general; a set can be any group of related items, while a kit implies they are packed together for a purpose
- equipment
broader and often uncountable; equipment is all the gear needed, while a kit is a specific packaged collection
- supplies
focuses on consumable materials rather than tools; e.g. medical supplies vs a first-aid kit
Usage Note
This is the broadest sense of 'kit.' It applies to any organised set of items for a purpose — from a first-aid kit to a shaving kit.
Common Mistakes
2. a box of separate parts that you buy and put together yourself to make something
a box of separate parts that you buy and put together yourself to make something, such as a model, a piece of furniture, or an electronic device.
Eli spent the weekend building a model aeroplane kit.
collocation: model kit
The furniture kit arrived with clear instructions and all the screws included.
Hamza bought a robot kit for his younger cousin's birthday present.
collocation: robot kit
The flat-pack bookshelf kit took about two hours to assemble.
Each solar lamp kit contained a panel, a battery, and wiring.
collocation: kit contained [parts]
- model kit
- furniture kit
- robot kit
- solar kit
- flat-pack kit
- assembly kit
- assembly set
nearly identical but less common than 'kit'
- flat-pack
British term for furniture sold as an assembly kit; more specific
- DIY kit
emphasises the do-it-yourself aspect rather than the product type
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (TOOLS SET): sense 2 specifically involves self-assembly of parts into a finished object. In British English, this is often called a 'flat-pack' for furniture.
Common Mistakes
3. the outfit and accessories that members of a sports team put on to play a match,
the outfit and accessories that members of a sports team put on to play a match, or that soldiers and sailors wear while on duty.
The football team wore their new kit for the first match of the season.
collocation: football kit / sports kit
Esme packed her hockey kit in a large bag before the away game.
collocation: hockey kit
Minho changed into his rugby kit and joined the team on the pitch.
collocation: rugby kit
The army issued each soldier a new combat kit at the training base.
Her goalkeeper kit included padded gloves and a long-sleeved jersey.
- football kit
- hockey kit
- rugby kit
- combat kit
- goalkeeper kit
- training kit
Usage Note
This sense is very common in British English for sports uniforms. In American English, 'uniform' or 'gear' is preferred. For military use, 'kit' refers to both the uniform and the carried equipment.
Common Mistakes
4. the general set of items, tools, or gear that a person needs to take part in a p
the general set of items, tools, or gear that a person needs to take part in a particular sport, hobby, or outdoor activity.
Tanvi packed her climbing kit before the trip to the mountains.
collocation: climbing kit
The photographer carried a heavy kit bag full of lenses and cameras.
collocation: kit bag
Quan stored his fishing kit in the garage next to the gardening tools.
Élise packed her skiing kit with goggles, gloves, and thermal layers.
collocation: skiing kit
The rescue team's survival kit contained a flashlight and a blanket.
- climbing kit
- fishing kit
- skiing kit
- camping kit
- camera kit
- kit bag
Usage Note
This sense overlaps with sense 1 (TOOLS SET) but focuses on personal gear for an activity rather than a packaged collection of supplies. It is typically uncountable — you pack 'your climbing kit,' not 'your climbing kits.'
5. drums, cymbals, and other percussion pieces positioned together for a single mus
drums, cymbals, and other percussion pieces positioned together for a single musician to play.
The drummer set up his kit at the back of the stage before the concert.
Amira practised on her electronic drum kit every evening after dinner.
collocation: electronic drum kit
His acoustic kit took up half of the small rehearsal room.
The band shared one drum kit between two drummers during the tour.
Liam saved for months to buy a professional five-piece drum kit.
collocation: five-piece drum kit
- drum kit
- electronic drum kit
- acoustic kit
- five-piece kit
- practice kit
- drum set
preferred in American English; identical meaning
- drums
informal; 'drums' can refer to the kit as a whole or individual drums
- percussion set
broader; includes other percussion instruments beyond drums
Usage Note
Also called a 'drum set,' especially in American English. The number of pieces (e.g. five-piece kit) refers to the number of drums, not including cymbals.
6. the young or baby of a fur-bearing animal, especially a fox, rabbit, beaver, or
the young or baby of a fur-bearing animal, especially a fox, rabbit, beaver, or raccoon.
The fox kit followed its mother through the forest at dusk.
collocation: fox kit
A rabbit kit is born without fur and with its eyes tightly closed.
The beaver kit learned to swim by watching its parents build the dam.
The wildlife centre cared for three orphaned fox kits until they were grown.
Raccoon kits stay with their mother for about nine months before leaving.
collocation: raccoon kit
- fox kit
- rabbit kit
- beaver kit
- raccoon kit
- red fox kit
Usage Note
This is a specialised term used mainly by wildlife biologists, hunters, and fur traders. In everyday conversation, people more often say 'baby fox' or 'baby rabbit.' The term is not used for cats ('kitten') or dogs ('puppy').
Common Mistakes
7. a bag, box, or case designed to hold and organise a set of items, especially too
a bag, box, or case designed to hold and organise a set of items, especially tools or equipment.
Gabriel packed his brushes and paint into a sturdy wooden kit for the trip.
pattern: pack [items] into a kit
Sofie kept her sewing supplies in a small fabric kit with a zip.
The technician opened his metal kit and took out a screwdriver.
The large canvas kit tore at the seams when Indra packed too much into it.
Each artist carried a wooden kit filled with brushes and paints.
- plastic kit
- metal kit
- wooden kit
- fabric kit
- tool kit
- carry kit
- case
more common for protective containers; 'a camera case' vs 'a camera kit' (the case only)
- box
simpler and more general; not specific to tool or equipment organisation
- carry case
emphasises portability; often used for electronics or instruments
Usage Note
In this sense, 'kit' refers specifically to the physical container rather than the contents. The distinction can be subtle: 'a tool kit' usually means both the box and the tools, but 'a tool kit with a broken handle' focuses on the container.
get your kit off
idiomTo remove all of your clothing.
The actor got his kit off for the movie scene.
Did you really get your kit off at the beach?
Every single thing or person in a group.
Maya packed the whole kit and caboodle for the trip.
They sold the whole caboodle, including the old furniture.
kit — verb
1. to provide a person or group with the clothes, tools, or equipment they need for
to provide a person or group with the clothes, tools, or equipment they need for a purpose — for example, kitting a hiking team with boots and tents before a trip.
The company kitted its staff out with new uniforms before the launch.
pattern: kit someone out with something
The hikers were kitted up with boots, backpacks, and waterproof jackets.
passive: be kitted up with something
The school kitted the science lab with modern microscopes and computers.
The rescue team was fully kitted before the expedition began.
passive: be fully kitted
The hospital kitted out the new ward with beds and monitoring equipment.
pattern: kit out [place] with [things]
- kit out
- kit up
- be kitted with
- fully kitted
Grammar Patterns
kit someone out/up with something
be kitted out/up with something
Usage Note
This verb is predominantly British. It almost always appears with the particle 'out' or 'up' (kit someone out / kit someone up). In American English, 'equip' or 'outfit' is more common. Frequently used in the passive voice.
Common Mistakes
kit out
phrasal verbto provide someone or something with all the clothes, tools, or equipment that are needed for a particular purpose.
The charity kitted out fifty children with new school uniforms and bags.
They spent thousands kitting out their camper van for the long trip.
kit up
phrasal verbto put on or gather the necessary clothing and equipment, typically for a sport, outdoor activity, or military operation.
The players kitted up in the changing room before the final match.
The soldiers kitted up quickly and boarded the transport vehicle.
kit — abbreviation
1. a short written form of the word 'kitchen,' used mainly on signs, labels, notes,
a short written form of the word 'kitchen,' used mainly on signs, labels, notes, and in building plans.
A note on the door read 'Kit' with an arrow pointing down the hall.
written abbreviation: 'Kit' for kitchen
The floor plan labelled the room at the back simply as 'Kit.'
The property listing said 'kit/diner' to describe the ground-floor layout.
On the building directory, a small sign read 'Kit. — Level One.'
Usage Note
This abbreviation appears in writing only — on signs, floor plans, real estate ads, and informal notes. It is not used in spoken English, where the full word 'kitchen' is always said.
Word family
- kittedadjectiveB2
- kitbagnounB2
- kittennounA1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All five words refer to a collection of items for a purpose, but they differ in scope and usage. A kit is a packaged, portable collection — typically in a box or bag — for a specific task (e.g., a first-aid kit, a tool kit). A set is more general: any group of related items, whether packaged or not (e.g., a chess set, a set of keys). Equipment is uncountable and refers to all the tools and devices needed for an activity, often in a professional context (e.g., laboratory equipment, sports equipment). Gear is informal and overlaps with equipment but feels more personal — you pack 'camping gear,' not 'camping equipment' in casual speech. Outfit is closer to kit in the clothing sense: a coordinated set of clothes and accessories, though it can also mean the act of equipping (e.g., 'an outfit for hiking'). For everyday use: grab a kit for a task, own equipment for a profession, pack gear for a trip, and wear an outfit for an occasion.
Common collocations
Nouns
- first-aid kit
- tool kit
- sewing kit
- survival kit
- repair kit
- fishing kit
- camping kit
- climbing kit
- drum kit
- model kit
- furniture kit
Adverbs
- fully kitted
- properly kitted
- newly kitted
Phrases
- kit someone out with
- kit someone up with
- the whole kit and caboodle
Prepositions
- out with
- up with
Etymology
The word 'kit' first appeared in English during the late 13th century, borrowed from Middle Dutch 'kitte,' which meant a wooden vessel or tub — a container for carrying things. By the 1700s, the word had shifted from the container itself to the collection of items kept inside it, giving us the modern sense of a 'tool kit' or 'sewing kit.' The verb meaning 'to equip' developed in the 19th century, followed by the phrasal forms 'kit out' and 'kit up.' Meanwhile, a separate root — possibly related to 'kitten' — gave rise to the specialised sense of a young fur-bearing animal, first recorded in the 16th century.