as in to watch
to take care of a child while the child's parents are away
She babysits their kids on Saturday nights.
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Recent Examples of babysit
The officer said animals seem to come with Yreka CHP’s territory; officers had to babysit a python and a tarantula while on duty last year.
—
Monica Garske, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Her aunt agreed to watch the baby for $180 a week, but the mom still ended up taking the baby out with her on deliveries and asking her older kids to babysit often.
—Julie Z. Weil, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
Kyle’s the other living who can see the ghosts, who comes to babysit them every now and then.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
Alex has the world’s most lovably supportive parents (Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds), who are delighted to babysit at the drop of a hat or the booking of a last-minute gig.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for babysit
Monica Garske, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Her aunt agreed to watch the baby for $180 a week, but the mom still ended up taking the baby out with her on deliveries and asking her older kids to babysit often.
—Julie Z. Weil, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026
Kyle’s the other living who can see the ghosts, who comes to babysit them every now and then.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
Alex has the world’s most lovably supportive parents (Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds), who are delighted to babysit at the drop of a hat or the booking of a last-minute gig.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for babysit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for babysit
Verb
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But her green eyes are still intense as always, watching me.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Marlins fans who show up at games to watch Sherman’s bargain-bin product are some of the best, most loyal (and most patient) fans in South Florida.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 27,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One way to combat that, as a gardener, is to start plants by seed instead of buying plants that someone else has started, watered and mothered for months.—
Henry Homeyer,
The Providence Journal,
13 Mar. 2026
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Barrington Elementary For more than a decade, Claudia Lopez joined other Barrington Elementary School mothers to cook a meal of turkey, potato salad, mashed potatoes, cornbread and chocoflan for Thanksgiving.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The brothers were each two years apart in age, but younger siblings were never babied; Nick recalled being on the receiving end of numerous pummelings by his older brothers.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
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Each new piece was crafted to be simple, functional, and beautiful, giving parents peace of mind and babies a nurturing space to grow.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Babysit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/babysit. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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