sit

1 of 2

verb

ˈsit 

sat ˈsat  ; sitting

intransitive verb

1

a

: to rest on the buttocks or haunches

sit in a chair

—often used with down

b

: perch, roost

2

: to occupy a place as a member of an official body

sit in Congress

3

: to hold a session : be in session for official business

4

: to cover eggs for hatching : brood

5

a

: to take a position for having one's portrait painted or for being photographed

b

: to serve as a model

6

archaic : to have one's dwelling place : dwell

7

a

: to lie or hang relative to a wearer

the collar sits awkwardly

b

: to affect one with or as if with weight

the food sat heavily on his stomach

8

: lie, rest

a kettle sitting on the stove

9

a

: to have a location

the house sits well back from the road

b

of wind : to blow from a certain direction

10

: to remain inactive or quiescent

the car sits in the garage

11

: to take an examination

12

: babysit

13

: to please or agree with one

—used with with and an adverb

the decision did not sit well with me

transitive verb

1

: to cause to be seated : place on or in a seat

—often used with down

2

: to sit on (eggs)

3

: to keep one's seat on

sit a horse

4

: to provide seats or seating room for

sit

2 of 2

noun

1

: the manner in which a garment fits

2

: an act or period of sitting

Phrases

sit on

1

: to hold deliberations concerning

2

: repress, squelch

3

: to delay action or decision concerning

4

: to wait or be ready for (a specific pitch) in baseball

sit on one's hands

1

: to withhold applause : fail to show approval or enthusiasm

2

: to fail to take expected or appropriate action

sit pretty

: to be in a highly favorable situation

sit tight

1

: to maintain one's position without change

2

: to remain quiet in or as if in hiding

sit under

: to attend religious service under the instruction or ministrations of

also : to attend the classes or lectures of

Synonyms

Verb

• set [chiefly dialect]

Examples of sit in a Sentence

Verb

He was sitting in a chair next to the window.

She sat across from me during dinner.

The children sat cross-legged on the floor playing a game.

Are you going to sit there and watch TV all day?

Don't just sit there—do something!

She walked around the table and sat across from me.

She sat the toddler in the chair.

The cat likes to sit by the window.

The bird sat on the ledge.

The limousine is sitting outside.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Talent manager Tracy Gershon and music journalist Robert K. Oermann sat on the panel alongside him. —Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2023

Waldon sat for a transcribed interview before the Ways and Means Committee on Friday. —Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023

Patrick sat at the helm of the Senate floor, in the dais. —Olivia Osteen, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2023

The park has five campgrounds, including Wheeler Peak Campground, which sits at 10,000 feet. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2023

The field hospital, which is equipped for surgery, did not yet have any patients early Monday as soldiers rushed to complete it, and several ambulances nearby sat idle. —Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023

The minor contact didn’t sit well with Elliott, who bumped Larson back when the cars got back on the track. —Dave Skretta, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2023

Those sitting near Biden included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and special climate envoy John F. Kerry, whose political career was marked by his service in the Vietnam War and then his opposition to it. —Matt Viser and Meryl Kornfield, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2023

The homes and buildings sit several feet above the boulevard. —WSJ, 31 Aug. 2023

Noun

Rhoda is super smart and shows it with her wide variety of tricks, including sit, down and even beg. —Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 16 May 2023

For a long sit, nothing beats a pop-up, hub-style ground blind and a comfortable chair. —Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 14 Mar. 2023

Audio via Jerry Berrier In May, Ms. Courchesne hosted a big sit alongside Jerry Berrier, a blind birder, on an All Person’s Trail near Ipswich, Mass. —Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023

The days of Roman’s quirky little sits are over, and the very online are mourning the final Succession Sunday on Twitter. —Vulture, 29 May 2023

The seat cushion is thick and comfortable for long sits, but sticks out and can be bulky if walking in tight brush. —Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 25 May 2023

The First Sit There’s always something special about the first sit of the year on a bear bait. —Tyler Freel, Outdoor Life, 25 May 2023

In addition to the dash — a staggered 1.5- and 2.5-mile dog walk/run — there was a doggie leap or limbo contest, a best singing duo contest, a doggie musical sit contest, silly pet trick contest, peanut butter lick-off contest, vendors and much more. —oregonlive, 13 May 2023

Only so many quirky sits, bad raps, and yaoi overtones the show can endure. —Vulture, 19 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan; akin to Old High German sizzen to sit, Latin sedēre, Greek hezesthai to sit, hedra seat

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing sit

• bed-sit
• not sit with
• rest/sit on one's laurels
• sit back
• sit bolt upright
• sit about
• sit idly by
• sit-down
• sit in on
• sit by
• sit in
• sit in judgment
• sit out
• sit on one's hands
• sit pretty
• sit still
• sit tight
• sit up and take notice of
• sit through
• sit around
• sit up
• sit on
• sit under

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• bed-sit
• not sit with
• rest/sit on one's laurels
• sit back
• sit bolt upright
• sit about
• sit idly by
• sit-down
• sit in on
• sit by
• sit in
• sit in judgment
• sit out
• sit on one's hands
• sit pretty
• sit still
• sit tight
• sit up and take notice of
• sit through
• sit around
• sit up
• sit on
• sit under

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Kids Definition

sit

verb

ˈsit

sat

ˈsat

; sitting

1

a

: to rest on the buttocks or haunches

sit in a chair

b

: to cause to be seated

sit yourself down

c

: perch entry 2 sense 2, roost

2

: to provide seats or seating room for

the car sits five people

3

: to occupy a place as a member of an official body

sit in Congress

4

: to hold a session

the court is now sitting

5

: to cover eggs for hatching : brood entry 2 sense 1

6

: to pose for a portrait or photograph : serve as a model

7

: to lie or rest in a condition or location

the vase sits on the table

8

: to remain inactive

the car sits in the garage

9

: babysit

Legal Definition

sit

intransitive verb

sat; sitting

1

: to occupy a place as a member of an official or formal body

sit in Congress

sit on a board of directors

2

: to hold a session : conduct official business

the court sits in the state capital