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

Other Words from squat Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about 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

Immortalized in Johnson’s book The RBG Workout, the workout reportedly involves Ginsburg breezing through pushups, planks, and squats. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s incredible ability to bounce back," 14 Dec. 2018 Perform squats at a 1-2 down and a 1-2 up tempo for 10-20 repetitions. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stepping up your training can boost your heart, lower-body muscles," 11 July 2018 In Florence’s case, there’s a high pressure system squatting to Florence’s north — which prevented Florence from moving up along the coast, and instead shunted it west onto land. — Rachel Becker, The Verge, "Hurricanes stalling like Florence over the Carolinas may get even more common," 15 Sep. 2018 To the north, Tropical Storm Chris was squatting Monday about 215 miles (350 kilometers) off the coast of the Carolinas. — Danica Coto, The Seattle Times, "Power outages, flooding hits Puerto Rico, USVI amid storms," 9 July 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Reposition your legs so that your feet land in sumo (wide) squat position. — Yolanda Edwards, Condé Nast Traveler, "Super Trainer Kayla Itsines on Staying in Shape at 35,000 Feet," 23 July 2018 And therein lies the problem, as there is no world burpee confederation to say what is and isn’t a real burpee, also known as a squat thrust. — Allyson Chiu, ajc, "Woman says she broke burpee world record. Why many disagree," 8 May 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Perform 2-4 sets of grapevine and squats resting 30-60 seconds between sets. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stepping up your training can boost your heart, lower-body muscles," 11 July 2018 Toney, 32, stood outside the door to her apartment in Brookland Manor, a squat and sprawling Depression-era apartment complex in Northeast Washington that houses more than 1,000 mostly low-income tenants. — Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, "Ben Carson’s plan to raise rent for poorest Americans would have ‘severe’ impact on District, experts say," 19 June 2018 There’s also a Lou Lou Ghost (a mini Louis Ghost Chair for children, naturally), a Charles Ghost (a backless stool), a Ghost Buster (a squat bookshelf), and several other plastic relatives. — Maggie Burch, House Beautiful, "Why The Transparent Plastic Ghost Chair Is An Icon Of Modern Furniture Design," 14 Nov. 2018 Without breaking your squat, quickly punch your right arm our and across your body and then bring it back to chin level. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Here's How to Do Octavia Spencer's Low-Impact Cardio Workout," 4 Oct. 2018 Shelly Storey, owner of the Pure Barre studio in Boulder, Colo., helps Mr. Seigal perfect his squat. — Jen Murphy, WSJ, "The Only Guy in the Barre Class," 14 July 2018 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

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.