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

These reporters joined a Reform councillor, Alan Feeney, in Solihull, in the West Midlands, where he was campaigning to retain his seat on the council, after defecting from the Conservative Party in 2025.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Nick Mendenhall said he witnessed the fatal moments in disbelief, watching the man come out of his seat and then fall into another cart on the ride before falling to the ground.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

That’s not unusual — industries typically ask for a seat at the table, the better to steer discussions to their benefit and dilute any resulting rules.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

"Why am I standing? I ask myself that every morning," admits Tim Sharman, who is running as an independent for Virginia's 8th District seat in the House.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

She shifts in her seat, but her eyes don’t leave mine.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

The party holding the White House has almost invariably lost seats in midterm elections, with just three exceptions in the House since 1934, according to figures compiled by the American Presidency Project.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Members of the House serve a two-year term so all 435 seats are up for election in November.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

But there will always be room for one prized possession: His collection of about 200 airline amenity kits, the travel-sized toiletry pouches that come free with first- and business-class seats on long-haul flights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

The Valkyries play their home games at Chase Center in San Francisco, which seats around 18,000 people.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

I was so desperate to feel close to him again that I reached over and wove my fingers through his as we sat in our seats watching the game.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

A brief exercise session, a walk, or simply getting up regularly instead of remaining seated may all contribute to healthier routines.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

The footage shows officers arriving Thursday in Marble Hill to find Oscar Belgal, 28, wounded, handcuffed and seated on the ground.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

Hasan will be seated in a chair with a hood placed over his head with a paper heart affixed to his chest.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

Some of them spit saliva on you unconsciously, especially if you are seated not far from them, and they are a nuisance in terms of noise and saliva.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

Instead, seated near, but not blocking the door, was Lincoln's servant, Charles Forbes.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

I’ll also be checking out Folia, a planning site I heard about that helps you track just about everything including budget, invoices, guest list and seating chart.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

It looks better, I suppose, to have a thousand people kept from entering a venue than seating them in a spacious arena he can no longer fill.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

From Monday, visitors will be offered an audio guide with more information about the embroidery, while additional signage and seating will be provided for those queuing to reach the main exhibition.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

It blazed the trail for premium seating and luxury lounges that rivals now copy, for instance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

That meant walkers and car-poolers were all going by bus so that our usual seating arrangement was not in order.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

Related Words

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