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

Iliad Bookshop has a sitting room for reading and browsing, and is open from 11am to 7pm Tuesday through Saturday. — Daily News, 19 June 2026

Built-In Massage, Heating, and Active Cooling To combat the physical toll of extended sitting, the X7 incorporates an 8D Dual-Core Bionic Massage system. — New Atlas, 19 June 2026

Adjective

The prefab ones benefit from a little sitting time to allow the flavors to marry. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026

Even now, there’s no consensus about the best anti-sitting protocol. — Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026

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