sit

[ sit ]

/ sɪt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: sit / sate / sat / sitting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), sat or (Archaic) sate

[sat, seyt]; /sæt, seɪt/; sat or (Archaic) sit·ten

[sit-n]; /ˈsɪt n/; sit·ting.

to rest with the body supported by the buttocks or thighs; be seated.

to be located or situated: The house sits well up on the slope.

to rest or lie (usually followed by on or upon): An aura of greatness sits easily upon him.

to place oneself in position for an artist, photographer, etc.; pose: to sit for a portrait.

to remain quiet or inactive: They let the matter sit.

(of a bird) to perch or roost.

(of a hen) to cover eggs to hatch them; brood.

to fit, rest, or hang, as a garment: The jacket sits well on your shoulders.

to occupy a place or have a seat in an official assembly or in an official capacity, as a legislator, judge, or bishop.

to be convened or in session, as an assembly.

to act as a baby-sitter.

(of wind) to blow from the indicated direction: The wind sits in the west tonight.

to be accepted or considered in the way indicated: Something about his looks just didn't sit right with me.

Informal. to be acceptable to the stomach: Something I ate for breakfast didn't sit too well.

Chiefly British. to take a test or examination: I’m studying now, and I plan to sit in June.

verb (used with object), sat or (Archaic) sate

[sat, seyt]; /sæt, seɪt/; sat or (Archaic) sit·ten

[sit-n]; /ˈsɪt n/; sit·ting.

to cause to sit; seat (often followed by down): Sit yourself down. He sat me near him.

to sit astride or keep one's seat on (a horse or other animal): She sits her horse gracefully.

to provide seating accommodations or seating room for; seat: Our dining-room table only sits six people.

Informal. to serve as baby-sitter for: A neighbor can sit the children while you go out.

Chiefly British. to take (a test or examination): She finally received permission to sit the exam at a later date.

Verb Phrases

sit down,

to take a seat.
to descend to a sitting position; alight.
to take up a position, as to encamp or besiege: The military forces sat down at the approaches to the city.

sit in,

to attend or take part as a visitor or temporary participant: to sit in at a bridge game; to sit in for the band's regular pianist.
to take part in a sit-in.

sit in on, to be a spectator, observer, or visitor at: to sit in on classes.

sit on / upon

to inquire into or deliberate over: A coroner's jury was called to sit on the case.
Informal. to suppress; silence: They sat on the bad news as long as they could.
Informal. to check or rebuke; squelch: I'll sit on him if he tries to interrupt me.

sit out,

to stay to the end of: Though bored, we sat out the play.
to surpass in endurance: He sat out his tormentors.
to keep one's seat during (a dance, competition, etc.); fail to participate in: We sat out all the Latin-American numbers.

sit up,

to rise from a supine to a sitting position.
to delay the hour of retiring beyond the usual time.
to sit upright; hold oneself erect.
Informal. to become interested or astonished: We all sat up when the holiday was announced.

OTHER WORDS FOR sit

10 meet, assemble, convene, gather.

See synonyms for sit on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about sit

sit on one's hands,

to fail to applaud.
to fail to take appropriate action.

sit pretty, Informal. to be in a comfortable situation: He's been sitting pretty ever since he got that new job.

sit tight, to bide one's time; take no action: I'm going to sit tight till I hear from you.

Origin of sit

First recorded before 900; Middle English sitten, Old English sittan; cognate with Dutch zitten, German sitzen, Old Norse sitja; akin to Gothic sitan, Latin sedēre, Greek hézesthai (base hed- ); cf. set, sedate, cathedra, nest

words often confused with sit

See set.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sit

set, sit (see confusables note at set)

Words nearby sit

Sistine Madonna, sistroid, sistrum, Sisyphean, Sisyphus, sit, Sita, sitar, sit at one's feet, sitatunga, sit back

Other definitions for sit (2 of 2)

sit²

[ sit ]

/ sɪt /

verb

(in prescriptions) may it be.

Origin of sit

From Latin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sit in a sentence

“No one wants to sit next to a piece of concrete,” said Shallal, who hopes the new setup will encourage more people to travel to the neighborhood and even open businesses there.
Busboys and Poets to launch ‘streatery’ east of the Anacostia River|Michael Brice-Saddler|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
There should not be 90-year-olds sitting around wondering if anyone’s going to remember they exist and give them a vaccine.
Chicago thinks Zocdoc can help solve its vaccine chaos|Lindsay Muscato|February 12, 2021|MIT Technology Review
The Washington Wizards will soldier on without their leading scorer for the second time this season when Bradley Beal sits out Friday’s game against the Knicks for rest.
Bradley Beal will miss Friday’s game against the Knicks for rest|Ava Wallace|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
My son sat alone in the classroom this week, surrounded by empty desks in a silent formation.
The mid-pandemic return to school is totally weird for kids. And possibly lonely, too.|Petula Dvorak|February 11, 2021|Washington Post

I’ve been stuck in hospitals and in my house, and now I’m just sitting out here in the sun.
A rare disease, a covid diagnosis, a painful decision: The death of basketball coach Lew Hill|Dave Sheinin|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
I watch every episode alone on my couch and I just sit there and laugh, and laugh.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Inside the guild, men in caps and long gowns sit in twos, weaving together in small rooms.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The detectives are still at it, seeking to account for a period of time when Brinsley may well have paused to sit somewhere.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
DeCrow would come to lead a movement against this practice, suing the Hotel Syracuse in 1969 and calling for protests and sit-ins.
The Bars That Made America Great|Nina Strochlic|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is very difficult to sit by helplessly while a friend is imprisoned for a crime that is too implausible to comprehend.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You see, they always butter their chairs so that they won't stick fast when they sit down.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Being quieted by the Captain with a draught of cold tea, and made to sit down, the examination of the book proceeded.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Since Henry Hawk could sit in a great elm far up the road and see himp.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
Never again would he sit behind that wheel rejoicing in the insolence of speed.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The hut was barely high enough to let him sit up, and long enough to let him lie down—not to stretch out.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

British Dictionary definitions for sit (1 of 2)

sit

/ (sɪt) /

verb sits, sitting or sat (mainly intr)

(also tr; when intr, often foll by down, in, or on) to adopt or rest in a posture in which the body is supported on the buttocks and thighs and the torso is more or less uprightto sit on a chair; sit a horse

(tr) to cause to adopt such a posture

(of an animal) to adopt or rest in a posture with the hindquarters lowered to the ground

(of a bird) to perch or roost

(of a hen or other bird) to cover eggs to hatch them; brood

to be situated or located

(of the wind) to blow from the direction specified

to adopt and maintain a posture for one's portrait to be painted, etc

to occupy or be entitled to a seat in some official capacity, as a judge, elected representative, etc

(of a deliberative body) to be convened or in session

to remain inactive or unusedhis car sat in the garage for a year

to rest or lie as specifiedthe nut was sitting so awkwardly that he couldn't turn it

(of a garment) to fit or hang as specifiedthat dress sits well on you

to weigh, rest, or lie as specifiedgreatness sits easily on him

(tr) mainly British to take (an examination)he's sitting his bar finals

(usually foll by for) mainly British to be a candidate (for a qualification)he's sitting for a BA

(intr; in combination) to look after a specified person or thing for someone elsegranny-sit

(tr) to have seating capacity for

sitting pretty informal well placed or established financially, socially, etc

sit tight

to wait patiently; bide one's time
to maintain one's position, stand, or opinion firmly

Word Origin for sit

Old English sittan; related to Old Norse sitja, Gothic sitan, Old High German sizzen, Latin sedēre to sit, Sanskrit sīdati he sits

British Dictionary definitions for sit (2 of 2)

SIT

/ text messaging /

abbreviation for

stay in touch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with sit

sit

In addition to the idioms beginning with sit

sit at one's feet
sit back
sit bolt upright
sit by
sit down
sit in
sit on
sit on one's hands
sit out
sit pretty
sit through
sit tight
sit up
sit well with

also see:

at a sitting

sit

OTHER WORDS FOR sit

Idioms about sit

Origin of sit

words often confused with sit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sit

Words nearby sit

Other definitions for sit (2 of 2)

Origin of sit

Words related to sit

How to use sit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sit (1 of 2)

Word Origin for sit

British Dictionary definitions for sit (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with sit