seating

American  

[see-ting] / ˈsi tɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of furnishing with, assigning, or escorting to a seat.

2. the arrangement of seats in a theater, stadium, etc.

3. material for seats, especially upholstery.

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adjective

1. of or relating to seats or those who are sitting.

   the seating plan of a theater.

seating British  

/ ˈsiːtɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of providing with a seat or seats

2. 1. the provision of seats, as in a theatre, cinema, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      seating arrangements

3. material used for covering or making seats

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Etymology

Origin of seating

First recorded in 1590–1600; seat + -ing ¹, -ing ²

Explanation

The noun seating means the available seats in a room or area, so a theater could have seating for 100. Seating is also the action of helping people find their seats, or the specified time when people sit down. If the first seating for dinner happens at six and the second at eight, it means that the dinner will be served in two sections, with half the guests sitting down to eat at each seating. And when a sports arena has special seating for disabled fans, it means that there are seats accommodating people who use wheelchairs or are otherwise affected by a disability.

Example Sentences

He requested copies and dates of when seating maps were changed, and the numbers of fans -- if any -- who ended up receiving inferior tickets as a result.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

The private backyard offers a seating area, fire pit, and barbecue.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The group were travelling with Rose's daughter and her partner, who had accidentally "messed up" the seating, Susie said.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

“The garbage had been sitting in the seating bowl area after games, and that problem is going to be eliminated as of tonight,” said Tim Mead, the Angels spokesman at the time.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

There was no assigned seating, and today Claire, balancing her tray of prepared food, had made her way to an empty chair at this table where the director was already sitting with several technicians.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• accommodation