English vocabulary · B2
Fitful
/ˈfɪt.fəl/ · adj.
It means not steady — stopping and starting again in short, irregular bursts.
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Example sentences
- He had a fitful night, waking up every hour.
- The old engine ran fitful, cutting out and restarting.
Word origin and roots
from Old English
- fit — sudden burst (from Old English)
- ful — full of (from Old English)
Synonyms and nuances
- BROKEN — not continuous (Interrupted & Cut Off)
- RESTLESS — unable to keep still (Uneasy & Active)
- UNSTEADY — not regular or stable (Unstable & Varying)
Similar words
- broken
- restless
- unsteady
Lesson notes
Fitful. It means not steady — stopping and starting again in short, irregular bursts.
Similar words are broken, restless, and unsteady. Use fitful when something keeps stopping and starting without a clear reason.
He had a fitful night, waking up every hour. The old engine ran fitful, cutting out and restarting.
fit- means sudden burst. The ful- ending means full of. Full of sudden bursts that stop and start — that is fitful.