intransitive verb

1
a
: to rest on the buttocks or haunches
sit in a chair
often used with down
b
2
: to occupy a place as a member of an official body
sit in Congress
3
: to hold a session : be in session for official business
4
: to cover eggs for hatching : brood
5
a
: to take a position for having one's portrait painted or for being photographed
b
: to serve as a model
6
archaic : to have one's dwelling place : dwell
7
a
: to lie or hang relative to a wearer
the collar sits awkwardly
b
: to affect one with or as if with weight
the food sat heavily on his stomach
8
: lie, rest
a kettle sitting on the stove
9
a
: to have a location
the house sits well back from the road
b
of wind : to blow from a certain direction
10
: to remain inactive or quiescent
the car sits in the garage
11
: to take an examination
12
13
: to please or agree with one
used with with and an adverb
the decision did not sit well with me

transitive verb

1
: to cause to be seated : place on or in a seat
often used with down
2
: to sit on (eggs)
3
: to keep one's seat on
sit a horse
4
: to provide seats or seating room for

sit

2 of 2

noun

1
: the manner in which a garment fits
2
: an act or period of sitting
Phrases
sit on
1
: to hold deliberations concerning
2
3
: to delay action or decision concerning
4
: to wait or be ready for (a specific pitch) in baseball
sit on one's hands
1
: to withhold applause : fail to show approval or enthusiasm
2
: to fail to take expected or appropriate action
sit pretty
: to be in a highly favorable situation
sit tight
1
: to maintain one's position without change
2
: to remain quiet in or as if in hiding
sit under
: to attend religious service under the instruction or ministrations of
also : to attend the classes or lectures of

Examples of sit in a Sentence

Verb He was sitting in a chair next to the window. She sat across from me during dinner. The children sat cross-legged on the floor playing a game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
That was particularly true for wrongdoing involving lawmakers because a majority vote from an eight-member panel of four Democrats and four Republicans — almost exclusively sitting legislators — was required before reports could be released, a system virtually designed to deadlock. Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec. 2024 The 9-4 Packers, meanwhile, have the third-best record in the NFC North but sit sixth in the NFC playoff standings and are coming off a narrow loss to the Lions last time out. Ben Morse, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
Forget showstopper hair shades, because the color everyone’s currently asking for sits firmly in girl-next-door territory. Elle Turner, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2024 But seriously: This is as difficult a sit as a movie gets. Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for sit 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan; akin to Old High German sizzen to sit, Latin sedēre, Greek hezesthai to sit, hedra seat

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of sit was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sit

Cite this Entry

“Sit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sit

verb
ˈsit
sat
ˈsat
; sitting
1
a
: to rest on the buttocks or haunches
sit in a chair
b
: to cause to be seated
sit yourself down
2
: to provide seats or seating room for
the car sits five people
3
: to occupy a place as a member of an official body
sit in Congress
4
: to hold a session
the court is now sitting
5
: to cover eggs for hatching : brood entry 2 sense 1
6
: to pose for a portrait or photograph : serve as a model
7
: to lie or rest in a condition or location
the vase sits on the table
8
: to remain inactive
the car sits in the garage
9

Legal Definition

sit

intransitive verb
sat; sitting
1
: to occupy a place as a member of an official or formal body
sit in Congress
sit on a board of directors
2
: to hold a session : conduct official business
the court sits in the state capital

More from Merriam-Webster on sit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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