squat

1 of 3

verb

squatted; squatting

transitive verb

1
: to cause (oneself) to crouch or sit on the ground
2
: to occupy as a squatter

intransitive verb

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

squat

2 of 3

adjective

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

squat

3 of 3

noun

1
a
: the act of squatting
b
: the posture of one that squats
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

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. Adjective a short, squat woman Noun He didn't do squat all day. She lives in a squat.
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
The 6-foot-6 1/2, 345-pounder casually squatted 600 pounds a month ago. Grace Raynor, New York Times, 30 May 2025 The former Maryland standout squatted 665 pounds and power cleaned 365, according to Feldman. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Adjective
Step closer, and the source comes into view: squat metal buildings that look like shipping containers arrayed in a semicircle, thrumming with fans and processors. Dina Temple-Raston, Wired News, 23 May 2025 However, Tesla unveiled a version in 2023 that could walk smoothly and even squat, as well as perform delicate tasks like picking up an egg without breaking it. Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Noun
Pause and do some push-ups or squats along the way. Jennifer Steinhoff, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025 The squat is a full-body move that improves your stability and can be done without any equipment. Jancee Dunn, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for squat

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squat. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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 noun
1
: 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

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