babysit

verb

ba·​by·​sit ˈbā-bē-ˌsit 

babysat ˈbā-bē-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

Examples of babysit in a Sentence

She babysits their kids on Saturday nights.

Recent Examples on the Web

Offering to babysit for Tucker's future child is definitely a unique way to recruit him to Toronto, but perhaps the allure of playing on a World Series-caliber team with his former teammate may tempt Tucker to sign with the Blue Jays. —Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025

Soldiers had to figure out who would babysit their kids. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

However, Sadie Sink, Max Mayfield in the show, has also been given a pass to babysit. —Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025

Cass agrees to babysit their work crush Kalli’s (Louisa Krause) 11-year old daughter Ari (Ridley Asha Bateman), but when Kalli fails to return, memories of Cass’ own difficult childhood begin to resurface, sending them on a healing journey with Ari. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from babysitter

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

babysit

verb

ba·​by·​sit ˈbā-bē-ˌsit 

babysat -ˌsat  ; babysitting

: to care for children usually while the parents are away for a short time

babysitter noun