seat

American  

[seet] / sit /

noun

• seats
  plural

1. something designed to support a person in a sitting position, as a chair, bench, or pew; a place on or in which one sits.

   Synonyms:

   stool, throne

2. the part of a chair, sofa, or the like, on which one sits.

3. the part of the body on which one sits; the buttocks.

   Synonyms:

   fundament, bottom

4. the part of the garment covering it.

   the seat of one's pants.

5. a manner of or posture used in sitting, as on a horse.

6. something on which the base of an object rests.

7. the base itself.

8. a place in which something belongs, occurs, or is established; site; location.

9. a place in which administrative power or the like is centered.

   the seat of the government.

10. a part of the body considered as the place in which an emotion or function is centered.

    The heart is the seat of passion.

11. the office or authority of a king, bishop, etc..

    the episcopal seat.

12. a space in which a spectator or patron may sit; accommodation for sitting, as in a theater or stadium.

13. right of admittance to such a space, especially as indicated by a ticket.

14. a right to sit as a member in a legislative or similar body.

    to hold a seat in the senate.

15. a right to the privileges of membership in a stock exchange or the like.

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verb (used with object)

• seats,
  present (3rd person singular)
• seated,
  past participle,  past
• seating
  present participle

1. to place on a seat or seats; cause to sit down.

2. to usher to a seat or find a seat for.

   to be seated in the front row.

3. to have seats for; accommodate with seats.

   a theater that seats 1200 people.

4. to put a seat on or into (a chair, garment, etc.).

5. to install in a position or office of authority, in a legislative body, etc.

6. to fit (a valve) with a seat.

7. to attach to or place firmly in or on something as a base.

   Seat the telescope on the tripod.

verb (used without object)

• seats,
  present (3rd person singular)
• seated,
  past participle,  past
• seating
  present participle

1. (of a cap, valve, etc.) to be closed or in proper position.

   Be sure that the cap of the dipstick seats.

idioms

1. by the seat of one's pants, using experience, instinct, or guesswork.

seat British  

/ siːt /

noun

1. a piece of furniture designed for sitting on, such as a chair or sofa

2. the part of a chair, bench, etc, on which one sits

3. a place to sit, esp one that requires a ticket

   I have two seats for the film tonight

4. the buttocks

5. the part of a garment covering the buttocks

6. the part or area serving as the base of an object

7. the part or surface on which the base of an object rests

8. the place or centre in which something is located

   a seat of government

9. a place of abode, esp a country mansion that is or was originally the chief residence of a family

10. a membership or the right to membership in a legislative or similar body

11. a parliamentary constituency

12. membership in a stock exchange

13. the manner in which a rider sits on a horse

14. by instinct rather than knowledge or experience

15. informal (of officials) in the office rather than on tour or on leave

    the agricultural advisor will be on seat tomorrow

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verb

1. (tr) to bring to or place on a seat; cause to sit down

2. (tr) to provide with seats

3. (tr; often passive) to place or centre

   the ministry is seated in the capital

4. (tr) to set firmly in place

5. (tr) to fix or install in a position of power

6. (tr) to put a seat on or in (an item of furniture, garment, etc)

7. (intr) (of garments) to sag in the area covering the buttocks

   your thin skirt has seated badly

seat More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing seat

• backseat driver
• catbird seat
• hot seat
• in the driver's seat
• ringside seat
• take a back seat

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• seater
  noun
• misseat
  verb (used with object)
• seatless
  adjective
• underseated
  adjective
• well-seated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• seats
  plural

Participles

• seating
  present
• seated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• seat
  simple
• seats
  simple
• have seated
  perfect
• has seated
  perfect
• am seating
  progressive
• are seating
  progressive
• is seating
  progressive
• have been seating
  perfect progressive
• has been seating
  perfect progressive

Past

• seated
  simple
• had seated
  perfect
• was seating
  progressive
• were seating
  progressive
• had been seating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will seat
  simple
• will have seated
  perfect
• will be seating
  progressive
• will have been seating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of seat

1150–1200; Middle English sete (noun) < Old Norse sæti

Explanation

Something you can sit on, especially if it's a bench, stool, sofa, or chair, is a seat. Most bicycles have one seat, while many motorcycles have two seats. If your teacher invites you to "Take a seat," he means "Find a chair and sit in it." There are seats in cars and airplanes, around tables, in restaurants, and in movie theaters. As a verb, seat means "help someone find a place to sit," the way an usher seats audience members at a concert. Some people also use seat to mean "bottom" or "buttocks," or the section of your pants that covers this body part.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

seat seats seated seating

Rep. Darrell Issa, a 72-year-old Republican who served 12 terms representing the 48th, 49th and 50th Congressional Districts over his 23-year career, is retiring, leaving his newly competitive seat up for grabs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

I found my assigned seat near the front of the orchestra section, and right next to Billy Porter’s sister.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

I’ve been told by many chief executives that it’s different the day you sit in that seat no matter how much exposure you’ve had to the role.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

What Italie couldn’t see from his seat in Row 20 on Flight 1073 was a desperate fight unfolding in the cockpit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

One of the man’s companions places a hand on his shoulder, firmly propelling the man back to his seat.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Los Angeles County voters face four runoff contests for Superior Court seats on Nov. 3, deciding who will preside over criminal and civil cases across the region.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The planes flying longer distances are also getting a dedicated premium economy section called Premium Reserve, with seats and in-flight dining that are a step up from the airline’s existing extra legroom offering.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

With 97 seats, Pam does not have a majority and will need to form a coalition to reach the 198 seats required for an absolute majority in the 395-member parliament.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

At the beginning, riders are taken up a slope while facing backward and, at the peak, their seats spin forward as they hurtle toward the ground headfirst.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

Mrs. Tracy didn’t even look over at Rich or Kayla or me or the others going back to their seats.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

They then rested while seated for five minutes, with their backs and feet supported.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

After giving flowers to the cast and thanking the audience for showing up, Glyman delivered a line that earned him ample cheers far beyond the rows of yellow-lanyard–sporting Ramp employees seated near me.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was seated at the head table.

From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026

I started, while in fact remaining seated beside Diana’s body, and carried through to the end, when I proclaimed my deep pride at being her brother.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Emily is already seated in the row in front of ours.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

From quick reels on how to fix cracks in walls, to complicated YouTube tutorials on building alcove seating from scratch, the internet is chock-a-block with seemingly endless home improvement demos.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

After the updates, premium seating will account for close to half the seats on 787-9 jets—46%, up from 38% now.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

It will seat 3,600 for basketball/volleyball events with comfortable seating and a large Daktronics scoreboard hanging from the ceiling, as well as other technologically advanced video boards showing statistics and player backgrounds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

If agents are always prowling for reservations, human spontaneity will lose, and fewer people who have the good fortune of checking for a competitive seating at the right moment will get it.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

I was glad we did not have the same seating arrangement for English!

From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez

Related Words

• accommodate
• install
• locate
• lounge
• perch
• sit
• squat