sitter

noun

sit·​ter ˈsi-tər How to pronounce sitter (audio)
1
: one that sits: such as
a
: a person who sits for a portrait or a bust
Usually commissioned by the sitters themselves, some images straddle the line between individual portrait and genre scene …Naomi Rosenblum
b
: a person who takes care of someone or something in the place of a parent, owner, etc.
pet sitters
The next time you hire a sitter [=babysitter], remind your daughter what happened the last time and let her know that you are only a phone call away.John Rosemond
see also house sitter
2
a
: an easy target
a sitter for enemy submarines
b
sports : an easy scoring or fielding chance
… missed an absolute sitter in the 44th minute to keep the game scoreless.Jamie Goldberg

Examples of sitter in a Sentence

They hired a sitter so they could go out. we'll be going to the movie if we can get a sitter for the kids
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wanting to help her through this difficult time, a neighbor and friend, Taylor, gifted Violet a special keepsake in memory of Apollo. Since Taylor moved in a few months ago, the two have become friends and each other's cat sitters, Violet told Newsweek via TikTok. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025 Editors’ Picks Image His paintings shifted attention to his sitters’ emotional lives, rather than their postures or sexuality. Nina Siegal, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 The portraits play out as performances by the artist and the sitters. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025 Apolinario, meanwhile, has seen strong interest in another type of sitter—not for kids, but for dogs. Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sitter

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sitter was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sitter. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sitter

noun
sit·​ter ˈsit-ər How to pronounce sitter (audio)
: one that sits
especially : a person who babysits

Biographical Definition

Sitter

biographical name

Sit·​ter ˈsi-tər How to pronounce Sitter (audio)
Willem de 1872–1934 Dutch astronomer

More from Merriam-Webster on sitter

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