seat

American  

[seet] / sit /

noun

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)

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)

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

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

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

He has earned Trump's trust and been given a seat at the table in high-profile meetings and events with foreign policy leaders in the Oval Office and across Europe and Asia.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

“The functional area flagged by most customers as ground-zero for AI-driven headcount reductions was customer support, resulting in some seat growth risk in ServiceNow’s CSM segment,” wrote analyst Karl Keirstead.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

I mean, I’m in my 50s, and when I was 15 years old, the mentors and people older than me would say, ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring your own chair.’

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

“There’s a lot of product, a lot of Gucci,” de Meo said as he walked from his seat to the backstage area to congratulate Demna.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

He keeps his knees squeezed together, making sure they don’t cross over onto my half of the train seat.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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