squatted; squatting
1
: to crouch close to the ground as if to escape observation
a hare squatting in the grass
2
a
: to assume or maintain a position in which the body is supported on the feet and the knees are bent so that the buttocks rest on or near the heels
squatted by the campfire
b
: to exercise by performing a squat (see squat entry 3 sense 3a)
3
: to be or become a squatter
squat in an abandoned building
squatter; squattest
1
: sitting with the haunches close above the heels
2
a
: low to the ground
b
: marked by disproportionate shortness or thickness
squatly
adverb
squatness
noun
2
a
: a place where one squats
b
: the lair of a small animal
the squat of a hare
3
a
: an exercise in which a standing person lowers to a position in which the torso is erect and the knees are deeply bent and then rises to an upright position
Note: A squat can be done while holding weights, with a barbell on the upper back, or without weights.
b
weight lifting
: a lift involving a squat done while holding a barbell on the shoulders
also
: a competitive event involving this lift
4
chiefly British
: an empty house or building that is occupied by squatters
5
slang
: diddly-squat
Synonyms
Verb
Adjective
Noun
Examples of squat in a Sentence
Verb
He squatted behind the bush to avoid being seen.
A family has been squatting in that house for months.
Noun
He didn't do squat all day.
She lives in a squat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The image showed Kardashian squatting down to pose next to her daughter, wearing pants that matched True's shirt.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Passengers lounged on wooden plank recliners instead of squatting on the floor, with devices plugged in to countless outlets (that actually worked).
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
The suspect and victims were among five acquaintances who were squatting in the apartment.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Feb. 2024
Worse yet, some on social media are sharing instructions on how to squat on private property, falsely advertising that the law permits the seizure of temporarily unoccupied property.
—Jill Jacobson, National Review, 2 Apr. 2024
There are specific devices—one specifically known as a Squatty Potty—designed to accommodate squatting during bowel movements.
—Dua Aldasouqi, Health, 13 Mar. 2024
The performers do squatting exercises to prepare for some of their movements during the show.
—Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024
In this photo, the rapper squats down looking over his shoulder and down at his arm, which is now almost fully covered in ink.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024
Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
But the reason for tall jars instead of squat ones is a longer story.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
At Little Egg, the scones are adorably squat in their hockey puck-like shape, seeming more like biscuits and less scone-like in lack of scraggly-ness.
—Olga Massov, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
Within them, researchers spotted squat lobsters, sea urchins, and small crustaceans known as amphipods.
—Priya Shukla, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Refuge of the roads A squat white building housed the restaurant.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Behind a tall rock wall, the campus was a lovely oasis: ibises flew around acacia trees that were scattered among a series of small, squat buildings with red tile roofs, each housing a couple of grades.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Another tactic, the French activist recounted, to communicate that outsiders are not welcome: tribespeople turn around and squat as if to defecate.
—Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
For nearly a century, The Original Mexican Eats Cafe called this squat building at 4713 Camp Bowie Blvd.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024
Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Nick Burri clicks into his ski bindings, squats to stretch his knees, and scans the snowy race course.
—Thomas Peipert, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024
The government pushed around 3,000 people out of derelict buildings and squats and into better lodging, albeit in towns farther away, according to Antoine de Clerck, a coordinator for Reverse Side of the Medal, a charity that aids vulnerable people.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024
His car then was an old Volkswagen Beetle with no rear seat, and Rich always sat up front next to Brent, leaving Irene to squat in the back on the seat frame as Brent drove faster and faster along hilly back roads.
—David Finkel, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2024
An emerging cottage industry of hustlers who make money coaching other people on how to squat and prosper with AI content appears to be expanding fast, says Lily Ray of Amsive.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024
Really, the only way to tell that this dilapidated structure – Building 4442, one of row upon row of such squat, khaki, standard-issue sandstone units at the heart of Fort Ord – once served as a proud and invaluable purpose are the murals that remain.
—Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024
The leggings remain opaque when moving, even while stretching or bending over to squat.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024
The 54-inch broom easily reached the other side of the table without requiring us to squat.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2024
Verb
Her husband squatted in front of her and took her face in his hands.
—Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The image showed Kardashian squatting down to pose next to her daughter, wearing pants that matched True's shirt.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Passengers lounged on wooden plank recliners instead of squatting on the floor, with devices plugged in to countless outlets (that actually worked).
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
The suspect and victims were among five acquaintances who were squatting in the apartment.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Feb. 2024
Worse yet, some on social media are sharing instructions on how to squat on private property, falsely advertising that the law permits the seizure of temporarily unoccupied property.
—Jill Jacobson, National Review, 2 Apr. 2024
There are specific devices—one specifically known as a Squatty Potty—designed to accommodate squatting during bowel movements.
—Dua Aldasouqi, Health, 13 Mar. 2024
The performers do squatting exercises to prepare for some of their movements during the show.
—Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024
In this photo, the rapper squats down looking over his shoulder and down at his arm, which is now almost fully covered in ink.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is a military base on a small, squat peninsula on the Texas coast.
—Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
But the reason for tall jars instead of squat ones is a longer story.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
At Little Egg, the scones are adorably squat in their hockey puck-like shape, seeming more like biscuits and less scone-like in lack of scraggly-ness.
—Olga Massov, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024
Within them, researchers spotted squat lobsters, sea urchins, and small crustaceans known as amphipods.
—Priya Shukla, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
Refuge of the roads A squat white building housed the restaurant.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Behind a tall rock wall, the campus was a lovely oasis: ibises flew around acacia trees that were scattered among a series of small, squat buildings with red tile roofs, each housing a couple of grades.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Another tactic, the French activist recounted, to communicate that outsiders are not welcome: tribespeople turn around and squat as if to defecate.
—Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
For nearly a century, The Original Mexican Eats Cafe called this squat building at 4713 Camp Bowie Blvd.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Her Tracy Anderson method routine includes a lot of glute work, squats, standing glute kickbacks, and side kicks; all fitness exercises are done with a wooden box that’s part of Anderson’s MyMode program setup.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Nick Burri clicks into his ski bindings, squats to stretch his knees, and scans the snowy race course.
—Thomas Peipert, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024
The government pushed around 3,000 people out of derelict buildings and squats and into better lodging, albeit in towns farther away, according to Antoine de Clerck, a coordinator for Reverse Side of the Medal, a charity that aids vulnerable people.
—Catherine Porter, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024
His car then was an old Volkswagen Beetle with no rear seat, and Rich always sat up front next to Brent, leaving Irene to squat in the back on the seat frame as Brent drove faster and faster along hilly back roads.
—David Finkel, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2024
An emerging cottage industry of hustlers who make money coaching other people on how to squat and prosper with AI content appears to be expanding fast, says Lily Ray of Amsive.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 7 Feb. 2024
Really, the only way to tell that this dilapidated structure – Building 4442, one of row upon row of such squat, khaki, standard-issue sandstone units at the heart of Fort Ord – once served as a proud and invaluable purpose are the murals that remain.
—Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024
The leggings remain opaque when moving, even while stretching or bending over to squat.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024
The 54-inch broom easily reached the other side of the table without requiring us to squat.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near squat
Cite this Entry
“Squat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squat. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
squat
1 of 3 verb
squatted; squatting
1
: to sit or cause (oneself) to sit on one's heels
2
: to occupy land as a squatter
3
: to crouch close to the ground
a hare squatting in the grass
squat
2 of 3 noun1
: the act of squatting
2
: a squatting posture
squat
3 of 3 adjective
squatter; squattest
1
: being in a squatting posture
2
: low to the ground
3
: being short and thick
squatly
adverb
squatness
noun
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