sitting

[sit-ing]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that sits.

2. a period of remaining seated, as in posing for a portrait or reading a book.

3. the space on or in which one sits, as in a church.

4. a brooding, as of a hen upon eggs; incubation.

5. the number of eggs on which a bird sits during a single hatching; clutch.

6. a session, as of a court or legislature.

7. the time or space allotted to the serving of a meal to a group, as aboard a ship.

adjective

1. (of a bird) occupying a nest of eggs for hatching.

2. of, for, or suited to sitting.

   a sitting area in the lobby.

3. holding an official position or office; occupying an appointed or elected seat; incumbent.

   a sitting pontiff.

4. in session or at work; active.

   a sitting legislature.

sitting

/ ˈsɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. a continuous period of being seated

   I read his novel at one sitting

2. such a period in a restaurant, canteen, etc, where space and other facilities are limited

   dinner will be served in two sittings

3. the act or period of posing for one's portrait to be painted, carved, etc

4. a meeting, esp of an official body, to conduct business

5. the incubation period of a bird's eggs during which the mother sits on them to keep them warm

adjective

1. in office

   a sitting Member of Parliament

2. (of a hen) brooding eggs

3. seated

   in a sitting position

Word History and Origins

Origin of sitting¹

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; sit ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sitting pretty, in an auspicious position.

   He's been sitting pretty since he got that new job.

Example Sentences

The teaser also shows the celebrities taking part in their first mission, and sitting at the round table for the first time, wearing their blindfolds.

From BBC

As they searched around her car, Michael says that her dog - which had been sitting inside on the passenger seat - jumped out of the window and bit him.

From BBC

Logan is sitting around a table in a downtown rehearsal room with Tseggai and two other cast mates, Jordan Rice and Victoire Charles.

From Los Angeles Times

"I might be sitting with someone who is, on paper, doing all the right things and doesn't seem to be getting any response," he says.

From BBC

At the same time Rather’s controversial reporting was challenging a sitting president, Weiss led a campus campaign designed to ruin the careers of Arab professors by equating their criticisms of Israel with anti-Semitism.

From Salon

Related Words

• situated