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

And in the royal family group photo on the chapel steps, the four-year-old squats down behind her older brother, Prince Nicolas, and appears to still be exploring the rocks on the ground. — Morgan M. Evans, Fox News, "Young Princess Leonore gets attention at her sister's christening for going barefoot," 13 June 2018 Exercises such as chair squats, lunges and abdominal twists mimic the motions of your everyday life. — Philly.com, "A decade-by-decade guide for staying fit for life," 16 May 2018 Thomas describes a client who complained of upper-back pain when squatting with a barbell, even when using a pad on the bar. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "What Is the Bulgarian Bag? All About Halle Berry’s New Favorite Strength Training Tool," 6 Mar. 2019 Say, isn’t squatting just another term for trespassing? — Stu Bykofsky, Philly.com, "To Germantown widow, trespassing means squat | Stu Bykofsky," 1 June 2018 The singer posted a snap of him squatting at what looks like the same park while someone in a floral dress and white sneakers stands in the background. — Isabel Greenberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "A Timeline of Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin's Pre-Proposal Romance," 18 June 2018 The feeling escalated as the armed militants protested federal regulations regarding public lands by squatting for 41 days inside the headquarters of the federal bird refuge. — Kathy Aney, The Seattle Times, "Composer celebrates Malheur Refuge," 13 Jan. 2019 Jump squats Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. — Philly.com, "A cardio circuit for people who hate running," 26 June 2018 For strength training, think about compound movements—deadlifts, squats, presses—doing 4 to 6 sets of between 8 and 15 reps. — Clay Skipper, GQ, "Want to Get Back in Shape? 5 Tips to Keep You From Quitting (or Hurting Yourself)," 6 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Before the final touchdown scheduled for April-May, Hayabusa2 will send out a squat cylinder that will detonate above the asteroid, shooting a 2-kilogram (4.4-pound) copper projectile into it at high speed to make a crater. — Washington Post, "Japan space explorer arrives at asteroid to collect samples," 26 June 2018 Set up at a squat rack or power rack with the bar resting at about the middle of chest height. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "How to Strengthen Your Core and Lower Body With Box Squats Like Rumer Willis," 24 Jan. 2019 Split squat Improves: Lower body strength, joint stability, flexibility, and balance With your back facing the bench, take a large step forward with your left leg. — Philly.com, "Free fitness: An outdoor workout for summer," 31 May 2018 This move targets the glutes and quads more than other moves due to the squat position. — Jen Murphy, WSJ, "His Gym Class Turns Into a Bollywood Musical," 9 Feb. 2019 Things go okay, at least until I’m asked to squat while holding a rod behind my head. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "What Happened When I Trained With Air Force Human Performance Specialists," 12 Feb. 2019 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

To perfect that perfect Insta girl squat, Jenner posed wearing a two-piece ribbed knit. — Vogue, "Kylie Jenner’s Idea of a “Chill” Fashion Instagram Is Anything But," 17 Mar. 2019 Hamstring curls, deadlifts, and box squats are among the most popular options. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "How to Do Nordic Curls to Strengthen Your Hamstrings, Like Celebrity Trainer Ashley Borden," 14 Feb. 2019 Small solutions such as taking the steps rather than the elevator or practicing bodyweight exercises at your desk such as push-ups, planks and squats, will make an impact. — Philly.com, "A decade-by-decade guide for staying fit for life," 16 May 2018 Krasinski and Pratt completed the grueling Murph Challenge, which consists of a one mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air-squats and another mile run. — Ale Russian, PEOPLE.com, "Chris Pratt Goes Nuts Over Pal John Krasinski's Movie A Quiet Place While Stuck in Traffic," 9 Apr. 2018 Many famous lifters have unusual form; Layne Norton, a two-time national champion powerlifter, has a famously weird squat. — Casey Johnston, SELF, "Ask a Swole Woman: How Sore Should I Be After Lifting Weights?," 1 Mar. 2019 Pull out your liquid liner, pop a squat in front of the mirror, and follow along for their tips on how do winged eyeliner right. — Maya Allen, Marie Claire, "Exactly How to Do Winged Eyeliner, According to Celebrity Makeup Artists," 31 Jan. 2019 The design team sketched out a squat, wide crossover with sporty lines and an aggressive end, and sent the engineers off to build it. — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, "2019 Chevy Blazer Test Drive: What Happened When GM Tried To Make the Crossover Cool," 4 Feb. 2019 In any case, the Rotax V-twin has enough punch that a thumb-full of throttle causes the rear end to squat on its independent suspension and the front to nose skyward like a boat climbing on plane. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "Can-Am's Outlander DPS 650 Is the Do-Anything ATV," 10 Jan. 2019

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.