squat

verb

\ˈskwät

squatted; squatting

Definition of squat

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to cause (oneself) to crouch or sit on the ground

2 : to occupy as a squatter

intransitive verb

1 : to crouch close to the ground as if to escape observation a hare squatting in the grass

2a : to assume or maintain a position in which the body is supported on the feet and the knees are bent so that the buttocks rest on or near the heels squatted by the campfire

b : to exercise by performing a squat (see squat entry 3 sense 3a)

3 : to be or become a squatter squat in an abandoned building

squat

adjective

squatter; squattest

Definition of squat (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : sitting with the haunches close above the heels

2a : low to the ground

b : marked by disproportionate shortness or thickness

squat

noun

Definition of squat (Entry 3 of 3)

1a : the act of squatting

b : the posture of one that squats

2a : a place where one squats

b : the lair of a small animal the squat of a hare

3a : an exercise in which a standing person lowers to a position in which the torso is erect and the knees are deeply bent and then rises to an upright position

Note: A squat can be done while holding weights, with a barbell on the upper back, or without weights.

b weight lifting : a lift involving a squat done while holding a barbell on the shoulders also : a competitive event involving this lift

4 chiefly British : an empty house or building that is occupied by squatters

5 slang : diddly-squat

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Examples of squat in a Sentence

Verb

He squatted behind the bush to avoid being seen. A family has been squatting in that house for months.

Noun

He didn't do squat all day. She lives in a squat.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Gordon is squatting in the middle of the room in front of a strapless, white guipure-lace frock with black silk-mikado trim. — Chloe Malle, WSJ, "How Designer Wes Gordon is Reimagining Carolina Herrera for the Next Generation," 6 Dec. 2018 Her travel routine includes 12 sets of 25 reps each of push-ups, squats and abs exercises. — Jen Murphy, WSJ, "Her Exercise? Picking Up Everyone’s Litter," 19 Nov. 2018 In rare cases, Israel has also evicted Jewish settlers who have squatted illegally. — Majdi Mohammed, Fox News, "Israel removes protest shacks near embattled West Bank site," 13 Sep. 2018 During the chaotic first hour of the hearing, this poor guy was out of his chair and squatting to whisper into his boss’s ear every 15 seconds. — Megan Angelo, Glamour, "THIS Is Must-See TV: All the Drama You Missed on Day One of Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation Hearings," 4 Sep. 2018 The inquiry began after evidence was found in a Sun Valley business where Bruce Paddock had been squatting, the Los Angeles Police Department said. — Alene Tchekmedyian, latimes.com, "Child pornography charges against brother of Las Vegas gunman dropped," 6 July 2018 Cloak and Dagger deals with serious subject matter: Tandy squats in a church and robs rich kids to get by, Tyrone appears to be depressed by the loss of his brother as a child. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: 'Marvel's Cloak and Dagger' is exactly what a superhero TV show should be," 6 June 2018 Getting used to it requires time, some give-and-take by employers and often a little etiquette training: 9% of employers offer training to curb behaviors like squatting—usurping shared space for oneself. — Gerard Baker, WSJ, "The 10-Point.," 17 May 2018 On staying in shape Duff works with a trainer and prefers HIIT moves like like squats, jumps, and quick sprints over the standard gym machines. — Rebecca Shinners, Health.com, "This Is What Hilary Duff Meal Preps to Eat Healthy All Week," 4 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The purpose of the upzonings was to lure in developers to tear down old squat buildings and build shimmering residential towers in the sky — exactly what the Showbox-destroyers are proposing to do. — Danny Westneat, The Seattle Times, "With the Showbox, we’re all NIMBYs now," 15 Aug. 2018 Men circle appraisingly, then squat down, their faces hidden by broad-brimmed hats, to negotiate. — Tom Downey, WSJ, "Exploring Madagascar Is Now Easier Than Ever," 18 July 2018 For various exercises, participants lean forward, backward or squat into the bands and are given both lift and resistance. — New York Times, "The Resistance," 23 May 2018 Side Shuffle to Get Up Do for: 90 seconds alternating sides Do it: Start with feet at shoulder-width distance in quarter squat. — Emily Abbate, Esquire, "A 5-Step New Year's Workout Plan Any Guy Can Crush," 2 Jan. 2018 From a standing position, squat down and jump your feet back into a plank position. Complete a push-up. — Allyson Chiu, ajc, "Woman says she broke burpee world record. Why many disagree," 8 May 2018 Jump squats in general work your outer thighs, glute medius, and glute maximus, and the wide stance of the sumo jump squat targets your inner thighs as well, explains Stokes. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Candace Cameron Bure's Lower-Body Circuit Will Strengthen Your Glutes, Hips, and Thighs," 15 Mar. 2018 A decade ago, the squat stone structure was the only sign of life in an industrial tract down by the rail yards. — Justin Davidson, Daily Intelligencer, "Downtown Nashville Is Supposed to Be the Model of the Walkable 21st-Century City. I’m Not So Sure.," 8 June 2018 Elsewhere in the neighborhood, the Boston Housing Authority recently completed the first phase of plans to replace the squat brick structures in the Orient Heights development with modern townhouses and apartment buildings. — Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, "With or without Amazon, Orient Heights development has some residents worried," 13 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Recently, our creative director Yolanda Edwards got to do 100 squats, pushups, and burpees with world-famous trainer Kayla Itsines, founder of the beloved Sweat workout app that has almost 10 million followers on Instagram. — Yolanda Edwards, Condé Nast Traveler, "Super Trainer Kayla Itsines on Staying in Shape at 35,000 Feet," 23 July 2018 Rajantie’s first name, Arttu, is pronounced like the Star Wars character R2-D2; a toy of the lovably squat droid sits atop his office computer at the Imperial College London. — Adam Hadhazy, Discover Magazine, "Scientists Hunt for A Seeming Paradox: A Magnet With Only One Pole," 13 Nov. 2018 The Sackler Gallery is a squat, geometric building that unspools into a subterranean museum beneath one of the Smithsonian’s public gardens. — New York Times, "Nan Goldin Survived an Overdose to Fight the Opioid Epidemic," 11 June 2018 Tone your legs with grand plies, or standing squats. — Adrienne Jordan, Esquire, "Want to Build Insane Strength? Try Barre Workouts.," 26 Jan. 2018 How to Make Squats Harder Air Squat: Perform the squats from standing. — Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, "The Back Pain Repair Manual," 22 May 2018 Andersen recommends warming up the lower muscles with squats and low-intensity walking up and down before going full throttle on a step workout. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stepping up your training can boost your heart, lower-body muscles," 11 July 2018 This is where your body should rest for each downward phase of the squat. — Philly.com, "4 essential strength training moves for cyclists," 5 June 2018 Sink back to the lowest point of the squat, and then stand tall. — Adrienne Jordan, GQ, "4 Smart Ways to Make Your Workout Routine Challenging Again," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'squat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.