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

Social media posts show users "raising" their rice cakes, complaining about being at home to babysit, and dubbing them their new pets.

From Barron's

Moreover, from the way he worked them he’d no doubt consider it a waste of their time to babysit a rookie.

From Literature

“A day or two. I’m old enough to babysit Boo, though, so you know. No big deal.”

From Literature

“I’m not trying to babysit you. Just making sure my parents don’t freak out again.”

From Literature

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