babysit

verb ba·by·sit \ ˈbā-bē-ˌsit \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Examples: babysit in a Sentence

babysat play \-ˌsat\; babysitting

intransitive verb

: to care for children usually during a short absence of the parents; broadly : to give care

babysit for a neighbor's pets

transitive verb

: to babysit for

She babysits her grandchildren.

; broadly : mind, tend

babysit house plants

police babysitting a witness

—

babysitter

noun

See babysit defined for English-language learners

See babysit defined for kids

Examples of babysit in a Sentence

She babysits their kids on Saturday nights.

Recent Examples of babysit from the Web

Helen Ramirez, who lives down the street from the Pagourtzises, used to babysit him and his younger sister.

— Washington Post, "Authorities in Texas say they confronted school gunman within 4 minutes," 21 May 2018
On May 23, Iana Kasian asked her mother to babysit.

— marisa gerber, latimes.com, "Graphic novelist sentenced to life in prison for 2016 torture and murder of his fiancee," 26 June 2018
She was shocked by the conversation about closure and texted her husband, Chris, who ran to the neighbor's house to ask them to babysit before heading straight to the school.

— emma kate fittes, Indianapolis Star, "How Carmel parents are fighting to keep Orchard Park Elementary open in Home Place," 21 June 2018
Bake something for a friend who is in the hospital, visit an elderly person, offer to babysit for a young mom, help a recent college grad with his or her resume, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or write a really nice note to your spouse.

— jackie pilossoph, chicagotribune.com, "15 material and nonmaterial self-confidence boosters," 20 June 2018
While shaking hands and greeting many of the spectators, William enquired whether anybody was free to babysit for him and his wife Kate Middleton.

— maria pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Prince William to Wedding Crowds: 'We Are Looking for a Babysitter If You Are All Free!'," 18 May 2018
Both have full-time jobs in their athletic departments, so her mom usually babysits during the week, his mom is available on Saturdays.

— mike jensen, Philly.com, "These local college hoops coaches are married to each other, and to basketball," 26 Feb. 2018
Andre and Patience's mother, Alee Malleck, brought the children to the home to babysit for her brother-in-law.

— max londberg, kansascity, "No smoke alarms found in Ozarks home where five kids were killed by fire, chief says," 12 June 2018
Medicaid recipient Claire Maitre, a 62-year-old from Scio Township near Ann Arbor, babysits her 3-year-old and 7-year-old grandsons when their parents are working.

— david eggert, Detroit Free Press, "Why Republicans wants 350,000 Medicaid enrollees to get a job," 5 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'babysit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of babysit

back-formation from babysitter

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1944

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

BABYSIT Defined for English Language Learners

babysit

verb

: to take care of a child while the child's parents are away

BABYSIT Defined for Kids

babysit

verb ba·by·sit \ ˈbā-bē-ˌsit \

babysat \-ˌsat\; babysitting

: to care for a child while the child's parents are away

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