sit back

phrasal verb

sat back; sitting back; sits back
1
: to get into a comfortable and relaxed position in a chair, seat, etc.
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
2
: to make no effort to do something
He sat back and watched us do all the work.
How can you just sit back and let him insult you like that?

Examples of sit back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But just to get to sit back and watch Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings and a handful of other artists kind of smattered throughout select dates. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025 The world was meant to sit back and respect the sacred, obscure geometry of his plan, but Congress, Wall Street, corporate executives, and even Musk were publicly backing away. Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025 The plan of attack now is to seize the day and take action, though, rather than sitting back and just hoping everything falls in your lap. Skyler Caruso, People.com, 20 Apr. 2025 Again, the show did not name all 60-plus people who are moving forward to the next round alongside Platinum ticket winners Canaan James Hill, Filo and Kolbi Jordan, who were able to sit back and relax during Hollywood Week. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sit back

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sit back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit%20back. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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!