sit

1 of 2

verb

ˈsit 

sat ˈsat  ; sitting

intransitive verb

1

a

: to rest on the buttocks or haunches

sit in a chair

—often used with down

b

: perch, roost

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

: babysit

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

: repress, squelch

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

Synonyms

Verb

• set [chiefly dialect]

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.

Are you going to sit there and watch TV all day?

Don't just sit there—do something!

She walked around the table and sat across from me.

She sat the toddler in the chair.

The cat likes to sit by the window.

The bird sat on the ledge.

The limousine is sitting outside.

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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

Phrases Containing sit

• bed-sit
• not sit with
• rest/sit on one's laurels
• sit about
• sit around
• sit back
• sit bolt upright
• sit by
• sit-down
• sit idly by
• sit in
• sit in judgment
• sit in on
• sit out
• sit still
• sit through
• sit up
• sit up and take notice of

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

c

: perch entry 2 sense 2, roost

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

: babysit

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