sit

1 of 2

verb

sat ˈsat How to pronounce sit (audio) ; sitting

intransitive verb

1
a
: to rest on the buttocks or haunches
sit in a chair
often used with down
b
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
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
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

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The symphony's plans were condemned by historic preservationists and people who remembered the theme park that had once sat on the banks of the Ohio River for more than a century. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2024 Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians come to worship at this mosque that has sat for more than a millennium on a site that both Muslims and Jews claim as sacred ground. Sufian Taha, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The helicopter went down in La Grulla, a border town that sits near the Rio Grande in Starr County. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024 Kate is sitting upright in the passenger seat while her mother drives. Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024 On a sunny Thursday afternoon on the corner of Holbrook Avenue and Gallagher Street, city officials unveiled a new, brown-colored street sign that sits above the Holbrook sign. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024 Britt also provides a stark contrast with Biden, the oldest sitting president in American history. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 With nearly 11 million people already displaced—three million of them children—the country is now home to the most people rendered homeless by conflict worldwide, and its populace sits poised on the brink of a major famine. John Prendergast, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2024 Fox, meanwhile, has strategically been sitting on the streaming sidelines. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
The lawn and side yard sit have been totally torn up: Mordente claimed the family did so after Flores caused a sewage back-up by clogging the pipes. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2024 Wearing a bright orange sweater, the proud grandma leans in to show her grandson something on her phone as the two sit courtside. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton and Las Vegas Aces player Kelsey Plum sit court side in the second quarter during the All Star Celebrity Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024 On December 10, Thurman had the predator hunt of a lifetime, bagging two bobcats during one mid-morning sit—one of which turned out to be an extremely rare albino. Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 28 Dec. 2023 Spending time over seven months in a fire lookout is the ultimate sit and see. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023 The durable fabric is waterproof, yet breathable, and the thick cushion rebounds, even after long sits. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2023 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sit was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sit

Cite this Entry

“Sit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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
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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!