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

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 Tiffany Nguyen, a competitive powerlifter who can squat 250 pounds, is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. — Jessica Tran, SELF, "How I Learned to Love Being Swole and Asian," 29 Mar. 2018 Lowering his voice, Worthington says Chubb has benched 425 pounds in the past month and squatted more than 650 pounds. — Jonathan Jones, SI.com, "Nick Chubb Keeping Things Familiar During His NFL Combine Prep," 27 Feb. 2018 Nicholson got hit on the head, turned, and squatted, putting his gloves on the canvas. — Don Steinberg, Philly.com, "Bryant Jennings beats Joey Dawejko in battle of Philly heavyweights," 29 Apr. 2018 The same can be done with burpees with no jump, bicycle crunches (pedaling), standing jumps, pushups, power squats (holding something) and crunches. — Mike Candelaria, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Got 5 minutes? You have time to exercise," 11 July 2018 Meghan was spotted on the sidelines squatting at eye level with a little girl and holding her hands. — Maura Hohman, PEOPLE.com, "Meghan Markle's Mom Skills Are (Already!) on Display: See the Sweet New Photos," 2 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

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 Dry land practice involves getting into a quasi-squat position—similar to Chair pose in yoga—with your knees bent, your hips facing forward and pushed back, your head in line with your shoulders, and your core braced. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "All About Log Rolling, the Unique Sport That’s Much Tougher Than It Looks," 8 May 2018 Another caller the same month said Leiva and Barron made the children squat for long periods. — Garrett Therolf, latimes.com, "Anthony Avalos was extensively tortured over days before dying, prosecutors allege," 4 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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 Then pop your feet back out to a squat, touching the ground with your other hand (d). — NBC News, "A 10-minute cardio workout you can do at home," 28 Feb. 2018 Simply take a beach ball and, using a permanent marker, write quick and easy exercise movements on the ball: five squats, 10 lunges, 15 pushups, 20 jumping jacks, 25 crunches. — Mike Candelaria, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Got 5 minutes? You have time to exercise," 11 July 2018 Hinge back at the hips into a squat, reaching your arms out in front of your body. — Philly.com, "A cardio circuit for people who hate running," 26 June 2018 Then reach down to the floor, bending at the knees for a narrow squat (e). — NBC News, "A 10-minute cardio workout you can do at home," 28 Feb. 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.