squatted; squatting
1
: to crouch close to the ground as if to escape observation
a hare squatting in the grass
2
a
: 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
squatter; squattest
1
: sitting with the haunches close above the heels
2
a
: low to the ground
b
: marked by disproportionate shortness or thickness
squatly
adverb
squatness
noun
2
a
: a place where one squats
b
: the lair of a small animal
the squat of a hare
3
a
: 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
Synonyms
Verb
Adjective
Noun
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
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2023
The short clip clearly shows the creature walking and then squatting as the train passes by.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 Oct. 2023
The royal parents are pros at connecting with kids and are known to squat down to their eye level to create a sense of empowerment when speaking with a child.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023
Most quarterbacks do not have legs like pistons; few of them can squat six hundred pounds.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
The sleeve stays in position even when brought through different ranges of motion, including explosive movements like squatting.
—Jack Byram, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2023
At a hospital or birth center, a squatting position can be accomplished with a birthing bar.
—Tonya Russell, Parents, 15 Oct. 2023
The footage shows a large, hairy biped walking across a hillside before squatting in the sagebrush.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 Oct. 2023
The actual homeowner, according to the outlet, filed a lawsuit to evict the people from the people, but neighbors blame her for the squatting activity.
—Emma Colton, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2023
Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2023
For an entire week, cliques of Palestinian militiamen thwarted the Israeli military by dodging through the winding alleyways, squat buildings, and underground tunnels before ambushing Israeli forces.
—Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2023
Will means the plastic bags, the stacks of magazines, the clamshell containers, the shelf in the pantry where her mother keeps all the complimentary snacks she’s received on airplanes: miniature packages of pretzels and cookies, squat cans of tomato juice.
—Clare Sestanovich, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
The corals were also crawling with critters, including squat lobsters, feathery brittle stars, and dense patches of anemones and sponges.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2023
Here, a curvy gourd vase kicks off the fall kitchen centerpiece, followed by a metal candle holder, a squat pumpkin, and a shallow wooden bowl.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2023
But its five-second intro, a post-toke cough followed by a throaty scream, had popped up in a few TikToks of MMA fighters pummeling each other and weightlifters grunting beneath squat bars.
—WIRED, 19 Oct. 2023
In a neat little neighborhood in Venice, Calif., there’s a block of squat, similar homes, filled with mortals spending their finite days on the planet eating pizza with friends, blowing out candles on birthday cakes, and binging late-night television.
—Time, 20 Sep. 2023
Jump forward into a squat position, feet framing outside of Bosu ball.
—Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 4 Aug. 2023
Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 16 Nov. 2023
This is also a good opportunity to carefully incorporate air squats — simple standing squats without any additional weights.
—Hannah Holland, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Keeping chest lifted, bend knees and sit back into glutes to lower into a squat.
—Megan Falk, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023
If you're cleared for light exercise, squats, yoga, and walking can help with positioning and alignment in preparation for labor.
—Alexandra Frost, Parents, 5 Nov. 2023
The content creator said the weakness also prevents her from doing a lot of exercises at the gym without modifications, like squats, lunges and running.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
Bench presses, squats, deadlifts, rows—they're all compound exercises.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023
On Instagram In one video, Jessie does kettlebell squats and hip raises with a weighted bag, arm raises, sprints, and more to get a full-body workout.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023
Her favorite was a brutal 20-minute drill of lunges and squats designed to build a better butt.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
See More
Verb
Meanwhile, Asher offends the daughter of Abshir (Barkhad Abdi), a man squatting in one of the properties the Seigels own.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2023
The short clip clearly shows the creature walking and then squatting as the train passes by.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 Oct. 2023
The royal parents are pros at connecting with kids and are known to squat down to their eye level to create a sense of empowerment when speaking with a child.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023
Most quarterbacks do not have legs like pistons; few of them can squat six hundred pounds.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2023
The sleeve stays in position even when brought through different ranges of motion, including explosive movements like squatting.
—Jack Byram, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2023
At a hospital or birth center, a squatting position can be accomplished with a birthing bar.
—Tonya Russell, Parents, 15 Oct. 2023
The footage shows a large, hairy biped walking across a hillside before squatting in the sagebrush.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 Oct. 2023
The actual homeowner, according to the outlet, filed a lawsuit to evict the people from the people, but neighbors blame her for the squatting activity.
—Emma Colton, Fox News, 24 Sep. 2023
Adjective
But base circumference does not make a big tree—indeed, most really wide white pines are comparatively squat.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2023
For an entire week, cliques of Palestinian militiamen thwarted the Israeli military by dodging through the winding alleyways, squat buildings, and underground tunnels before ambushing Israeli forces.
—Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2023
Will means the plastic bags, the stacks of magazines, the clamshell containers, the shelf in the pantry where her mother keeps all the complimentary snacks she’s received on airplanes: miniature packages of pretzels and cookies, squat cans of tomato juice.
—Clare Sestanovich, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
The corals were also crawling with critters, including squat lobsters, feathery brittle stars, and dense patches of anemones and sponges.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2023
Here, a curvy gourd vase kicks off the fall kitchen centerpiece, followed by a metal candle holder, a squat pumpkin, and a shallow wooden bowl.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2023
But its five-second intro, a post-toke cough followed by a throaty scream, had popped up in a few TikToks of MMA fighters pummeling each other and weightlifters grunting beneath squat bars.
—WIRED, 19 Oct. 2023
In a neat little neighborhood in Venice, Calif., there’s a block of squat, similar homes, filled with mortals spending their finite days on the planet eating pizza with friends, blowing out candles on birthday cakes, and binging late-night television.
—Time, 20 Sep. 2023
Jump forward into a squat position, feet framing outside of Bosu ball.
—Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 4 Aug. 2023
Noun
Your training routine should include a variety of compound movements, like lunges, Bulgarian split squats, leg presses, pull-downs, upright rows, and push-ups.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 16 Nov. 2023
This is also a good opportunity to carefully incorporate air squats — simple standing squats without any additional weights.
—Hannah Holland, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
Keeping chest lifted, bend knees and sit back into glutes to lower into a squat.
—Megan Falk, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023
If you're cleared for light exercise, squats, yoga, and walking can help with positioning and alignment in preparation for labor.
—Alexandra Frost, Parents, 5 Nov. 2023
The content creator said the weakness also prevents her from doing a lot of exercises at the gym without modifications, like squats, lunges and running.
—Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
Bench presses, squats, deadlifts, rows—they're all compound exercises.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023
On Instagram In one video, Jessie does kettlebell squats and hip raises with a weighted bag, arm raises, sprints, and more to get a full-body workout.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023
Her favorite was a brutal 20-minute drill of lunges and squats designed to build a better butt.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English squatten to crush, crouch in hiding, from Middle French (Picard dialect) esquatir, escuater, from Old French es- ex- + quatir to hide, from Vulgar Latin *coactire to squeeze, alteration of Latin coactare to compel — more at cache
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of squat was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing squat
Dictionary Entries Near squat
Cite this Entry
“Squat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squat. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
squat
1 of 3 verb
squatted; squatting
1
: to sit or cause (oneself) to sit on one's heels
2
: to occupy land as a squatter
3
: to crouch close to the ground
a hare squatting in the grass
squat
2 of 3 noun1
: the act of squatting
2
: a squatting posture
squat
3 of 3 adjective
squatter; squattest
1
: being in a squatting posture
2
: low to the ground
3
: being short and thick
squatly
adverb
squatness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on squat
Nglish: Translation of squat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of squat for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squat
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