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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Development of the port and pier comes as Israel faces widespread international criticism over the slow trickle of aid into the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says at least a quarter of the population sits on the brink of starvation. —Lolita C. Baldor, arkansasonline.com, 26 Apr. 2024

Police were seen cleaning out the encampment around 11 a.m. and about a dozen people were seen sitting near a police vehicle with their hands zip tied behind their back. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024

For 25 years, Ruby’s Diner sat at the end of the pier, but it was reduced to takeout only when the pandemic hit in March 2020. —San Diego Union Tribune, Orange County Register, 26 Apr. 2024

D’Angelo Russell, who missed all seven of his shots on a stunningly scoreless night, was seen sitting outside the huddle during a timeout while appearing to be eating. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024

The roughly 150 guests sat at two long tables for dinner on a terrace overlooking the home’s gardens. —Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024

At the latest count, the U.S. was sitting on a debt-to-GDP ratio of 121%. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 Apr. 2024

Cheerleaders, soccer and baseball players, and other members of the student body filed through the lunch line and sat at their tables. —Julie Creswell Audra Melton, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024

Clear water still sits over the salt flat in the photos. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 25 Apr. 2024

Noun

But Trump Tower, where the triplex sits and which opened in 1983, has long been eclipsed by more modern high-rises, according to brokers and analysts. —Rukmini Callimachi, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024

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

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 about
• sit around
• sit back
• sit bolt upright
• sit by
• sit-down
• sit idly by
• sit in
• sit in judgment
• sit in on
• sit on
• sit on one's hands
• sit out
• sit pretty
• sit still
• sit through
• sit tight
• sit under
• sit up
• sit up and take notice of

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