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

Using a rice cooker takes all the unpredictability out of the equation: There’s no need to babysit a pot of rice on the stovetop and no risk of under- or overcooking your rice. —Genevieve Yam, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2024

Cooney was a recent college graduate who moved into Kennedy and Mary’s Mount Kisco, New York home to babysit and help Kennedy at his environmental law clinic at Pace University during the week, Vanity Fair said. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024

The woman had been trusted to babysit the infant for short periods of time before, but never alone, Harris said. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2024

But just be prepared to pick your jaw up off the floor, and never trust Deborah to babysit! —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 10 May 2024

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