sitting

1 of 2

noun

sit·​ting ˈsi-tiŋ 

1

a

: the act of one that sits

b

: a single occasion of continuous sitting (as for a portrait or meal)

2

a

: a brooding over eggs for hatching

b

: setting sense 6

3

: session

a sitting of the legislature

sitting

2 of 2

adjective

1

: that is setting

a sitting hen

2

: occupying a judicial, legislative, or executive seat : being in office

3

: easily hit or played

a sitting target

4

a

: used in or for sitting

a sitting position

b

: performed while sitting

a sitting shot

Examples of sitting in a Sentence

Noun

I got through the book in one sitting.

He finished the portrait in one sitting.

We'll eat at the second sitting.

We have reservations for the 5:30 sitting.

Adjective

a sitting member of Parliament

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After hours of sitting, short breaks are effective energy management strategies that can be as simple as stretching, walking up and down stairs, snacking, deep breathing, yoga or a five minute mindful meditation. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Though very unlikely, prolonged sitting also increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a rare and potentially serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 8 July 2025

Adjective

With the stalemate, the sitting Republican governor, Morgan G. Bulkeley simply stayed in office for two more years. —Gideon Cohn-Postar, The Conversation, 1 Nov. 2019

For a while, the sitting Republican governor, Matt Bevin, looked eminently deposable. —I.k. | Lexington, The Economist, 1 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sitting

• bed-sitting room
• fence-sitting
• sitting down
• sitting duck
• (sitting) in the catbird seat
• sitting room
• sitting tenant

Rhymes for sitting

• fitting
• flitting
• gritting
• hitting
• knitting
• pitting
• quitting
• slitting
• spitting
• splitting
• acquitting
• admitting

Kids Definition

sitting

1 of 2 noun

sit·​ting

ˈsit-iŋ

1

: an act of one that sits

especially : a single occasion of continuous sitting

finished the portrait in one sitting

2

a

: a brooding over eggs for hatching

b

: setting sense 5

3

: session sense 1

sitting of the legislature

sitting

2 of 2 adjective

: used in or for sitting

a sitting position