seat

1 of 2

noun

ˈsēt 

1

a

: a special chair of one in eminence

also : the status represented by it

b

: a chair, stool, or bench intended to be sat in or on

c

: the particular part of something on which one rests in sitting

the seat of a chair

trouser seat

d

: buttocks

2

a

: a seating accommodation

a seat for the game

a 200-seat restaurant

b

: a right of sitting

lost his seat in Congress

c

: membership on an exchange

3

a

: a place where something specified is prevalent : center

a seat of learning

b

: a place from which authority is exercised

the county seat

c

: a bodily part in which some function or condition is centered

the brain as the seat of the mind

4

: posture in or way of sitting on horseback

5

a

: a part at or forming the base of something

b

: a part (such as a socket) or surface on or in which another part or surface rests

seat

2 of 2

verb

seated; seating; seats

transitive verb

1

a

: to install in a seat of dignity or office

b(1)

: to cause to sit or assist in finding a seat

(2)

: to provide seats for

a theater seating 1000 persons

c

: to put in a sitting position

2

: to repair the seat of or provide a new seat for

3

: to fit to or with a seat

seat a valve

intransitive verb

1

archaic : to take one's seat or place

2

: to fit correctly on a seat

Phrases

by the seat of one's pants

: using experience and intuition rather than mechanical aids or formal theory

Synonyms

Noun

• command
• headquarters

Verb

• set down
• sit

Examples of seat in a Sentence

Noun

There were seats for six people at the table.

a car with leather seats

He used the box as a seat.

He couldn't find his seat in the concert hall.

The city recently built a new 1,000-seat theater.

She booked a seat on the next flight to Rome.

The stool's seat is broken.

The chairs have woven seats.

The Democrats gained two more seats in the last election.

She won a Senate seat.

Verb

I could seat you here if you wish.

The plans call for a stadium seating 30,000 people.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The importance of these seats was thrown into sharp relief when a ballot box in Washington's 3rd district was set ablaze, destroying hundreds of ballots in an arson case last week. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

Democrats hold 56 of those seats and Republicans hold 54 of them. —Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024

Verb

Rudolph sat before an (empty) vanity mirror and the real-life vice president appeared in a similar suit and necklace seated on the other side. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024

We are seated in a theatre in New York City, mind you—English is the way. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sete, from Old Norse sæti; akin to Old English gesete seat, sittan to sit

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing seat

• back seat
• banana seat
• bench seat
• booster seat
• box seat
• bucket seat
• car seat
• catbird seat
• country seat
• county seat
• driver's seat
• drop seat
• ejection seat
• grab a seat
• have a seat
• hot seat
• house seat
• in the driver's seat
• jump seat
• love seat
• on the edge of one's seat
• passenger seat
• rumble seat
• saddle seat
• safe seat
• seat belt
• seat-of-the-pants
• shotgun seat
• (sitting) in the catbird seat
• sliding seat
• take a back seat
• take a seat
• take one's seat
• the hot seat
• window seat

Kids Definition

seat

1 of 2 noun

ˈsēt 

1

a

: something (as a chair) intended to be sat in or on

b

: the part of something on which one rests in sitting

seat of the trousers

a chair seat

c

: the part of the body on which a person sits : buttock sense 2a

2

a

: the place on or at which a person sits

had three seats for the game

b

: a right of sitting usually as a member

a seat in the senate

c

: membership sense 1

3

: a place or area where something is located

the seat of the pain

seats of learning

especially : a place (as a city) from which authority is exercised

the new seat of the government

4

: posture in or way of sitting especially on horseback

5

: a part or surface on which another part or surface rests

seated

-əd

adjective

seat

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to place in or on a seat

seat a guest

b

: to provide seats for

a theater seating 1000 persons

2

: to repair the seat of or provide a new seat for

seat a chair

seater noun

Medical Definition

seat

1 of 2 noun

ˈsēt 

: a part or surface especially in dentistry on or in which another part or surface rests see rest seat

seat

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to provide with or position on a dental seat

intransitive verb

: to fit correctly on a dental seat