babysit

American  

[bey-bee-sit] / ˈbeɪ biˌsɪt /

Or baby-sit

verb (used without object)

babysat, babysitting

1. to take charge of a child while the parents are temporarily away.

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verb (used with object)

babysat, babysitting

1. to take watchful responsibility for (a child).

   We're looking for someone to babysit the kids in the evening.

2. to take watchful responsibility for; tend.

   It will be necessary for someone to babysit the machine until it is running properly.

Other Word Forms

• baby-sitter noun
• babysitter noun

Etymology

Origin of babysit

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The same trio had won the Irish National in April but this victory meant even more to them -- Curtis learnt the tricks of the training trade under Bowen's trainer father Peter and would also babysit Bowen junior and siblings.

From Barron's

During submissions a prosecution barrister outlined Bracas' interview with police, where he told them he felt his sister treated him like garbage and made him do chores and babysit his niece.

From BBC

And further I suspect the newlyweds just want us on the trip to babysit my mother-in-law.

From MarketWatch

I say babysit because the newlyweds will go off on their own and my family would be stuck taking care of my mother-in-law.

From MarketWatch

Michael suspected that the reason Gibby had offered to babysit in the first place was that her father was the reason Michael’s mom lost her job.

From Literature