sit on
Britishverb
-
to be a member of (a committee, etc)
-
informal to suppress
-
informal to check or rebuke
-
Also, sit upon.
-
Confer about or deliberate over, as in Another attorney was called to sit on the case . [Mid-1400s]
-
Suppress or repress, as in I know they were sitting on some evidence . [Early 1900s]
-
Postpone action or resolution regarding, as in I don't know why the city council is sitting on their decision . [Early 1900s]
-
Rebuke sharply, reprimand, as in If he interrupts one more time I'm going to sit on him . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Plush toy versions of his cats and monkey characters sit on recently upholstered matte orange, cream and red booths.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
WSJ | Buy Side: Mineral sunscreens sit on top of your skin and reflect UV rays.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026
Traditionally, HSL has been known to sit on the surface of lipid droplets, where it helps break down fat.
From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2026
On top of that, market volatility pushed many to sell on days that the market rallied, and sit on the sidelines instead of buying dips.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026
Jack whispered to his returning grandfather, who instead of bringing back something useful had dragged out a chair to sit on.
From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
