: a conditioning exercise performed from a supine position by raising the torso to a sitting position and returning to the original position without using the arms or lifting the feet
sat up; sitting up; sits up
1
a
: to rise from a lying to a sitting position
b
: to sit with the back erect
2
: to show interest, alertness, or surprise
sit up and take notice
3
: to stay up after the usual time for going to bed
Examples of sit-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
With the Olympics in mind, van Gorp is breaking for up to two and a half hours each day, plus gym sessions and calisthenics – body-weight strength training like push-ups and sit-ups – in pursuit of winning gold.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024
Each big 3 exercise is performed as follows: The curl-up looks like a sit-up, but different in that one leg remains bent at the knee (with the foot of that leg flat against the ground and the other leg straight) with your hands under your lower back to provide support.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024
In the video, Olympia (wearing a ruffled red dress) carefully lifts her baby sister (in holiday jammies) from the ground and lowers her back down, holding her hands the whole time — for a sweet version of baby sit-ups.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023
Exercises like push-ups, squats, sit-ups, lunges, and planks can improve muscle endurance.
—Jenny McCoy, Health, 4 Dec. 2023
Every night a family member had to remain awake to monitor David, who would jerk into 30-minute frenzies of rapid sit-ups.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023
The moves included throwing punches while doing sit-ups, sparring at a fierce pace, dodging punches, and kicking her sparring partner in the abs.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
For sit-ups, male officers must do 37 in one minute and female officers 31.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023
Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024
Making body adjustments—pulling your shoulders back, standing or sitting up straight, walking in a more expansive way—can pull you out of self-doubt, disappointment or dread and any other self-defeating emotion.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
However, unexpected events could impact home and family, which require you to sit up and pay attention.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2024
Soon after famed architect Walter De Garmo built the first mansion, the global elite began to sit up and take notice.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Our babies loved the music and were able to sit up and play independently for a long time.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024
Carter usually has to sleep sitting up, at the end of the couch or on a nearby chair, leaning on her fist like a pillow.
—Todd Wallack, ProPublica, 7 Mar. 2024
Featuring an eclectic roster of motors that would have made Ross himself sit up and take note, this year saw BMW battle Alfa Romeo, Maserati take on Maybach, and Mercedes-AMG go head-to-head with Rolls-Royce.
—Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2024
In an update about the health of their father, which was posted by Kenzie to the 59-year-old’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, the former UFC heavyweight champion can be seen sitting up in bed and talking.
—Sam Joseph, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
The singer lifted weights on a sit-up bench with his spotter, also cooly rocking sunglasses indoors.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
With the Olympics in mind, van Gorp is breaking for up to two and a half hours each day, plus gym sessions and calisthenics – body-weight strength training like push-ups and sit-ups – in pursuit of winning gold.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024
Each big 3 exercise is performed as follows: The curl-up looks like a sit-up, but different in that one leg remains bent at the knee (with the foot of that leg flat against the ground and the other leg straight) with your hands under your lower back to provide support.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024
In the video, Olympia (wearing a ruffled red dress) carefully lifts her baby sister (in holiday jammies) from the ground and lowers her back down, holding her hands the whole time — for a sweet version of baby sit-ups.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023
Exercises like push-ups, squats, sit-ups, lunges, and planks can improve muscle endurance.
—Jenny McCoy, Health, 4 Dec. 2023
Every night a family member had to remain awake to monitor David, who would jerk into 30-minute frenzies of rapid sit-ups.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023
The moves included throwing punches while doing sit-ups, sparring at a fierce pace, dodging punches, and kicking her sparring partner in the abs.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023
For sit-ups, male officers must do 37 in one minute and female officers 31.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023
Verb
Milestones like crawling, rolling over, and sitting up will all be influenced by tummy time.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 6 Apr. 2024
Making body adjustments—pulling your shoulders back, standing or sitting up straight, walking in a more expansive way—can pull you out of self-doubt, disappointment or dread and any other self-defeating emotion.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024
However, unexpected events could impact home and family, which require you to sit up and pay attention.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2024
Soon after famed architect Walter De Garmo built the first mansion, the global elite began to sit up and take notice.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
Our babies loved the music and were able to sit up and play independently for a long time.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024
Carter usually has to sleep sitting up, at the end of the couch or on a nearby chair, leaning on her fist like a pillow.
—Todd Wallack, ProPublica, 7 Mar. 2024
Featuring an eclectic roster of motors that would have made Ross himself sit up and take note, this year saw BMW battle Alfa Romeo, Maserati take on Maybach, and Mercedes-AMG go head-to-head with Rolls-Royce.
—Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2024
In an update about the health of their father, which was posted by Kenzie to the 59-year-old’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, the former UFC heavyweight champion can be seen sitting up in bed and talking.
—Sam Joseph, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sit-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sit-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit-up. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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