sitting

American  

[sit-ing] / ˈsɪt ɪŋ /

noun

• sittings
  plural

1. the act of a person or thing that sits.

2. a period of remaining seated, as in posing for a portrait or reading a book.

3. the space on or in which one sits, as in a church.

4. a brooding, as of a hen upon eggs; incubation.

5. the number of eggs on which a bird sits during a single hatching; clutch.

6. a session, as of a court or legislature.

7. the time or space allotted to the serving of a meal to a group, as aboard a ship.

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adjective

1. (of a bird) occupying a nest of eggs for hatching.

2. of, for, or suited to sitting.

   a sitting area in the lobby.

3. holding an official position or office; occupying an appointed or elected seat; incumbent.

   a sitting pontiff.

4. in session or at work; active.

   a sitting legislature.

idioms

1. sitting pretty, in an auspicious position.

   He's been sitting pretty since he got that new job.

sitting British  

/ ˈsɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. a continuous period of being seated

   I read his novel at one sitting

2. such a period in a restaurant, canteen, etc, where space and other facilities are limited

   dinner will be served in two sittings

3. the act or period of posing for one's portrait to be painted, carved, etc

4. a meeting, esp of an official body, to conduct business

5. the incubation period of a bird's eggs during which the mother sits on them to keep them warm

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adjective

1. in office

   a sitting Member of Parliament

2. (of a hen) brooding eggs

3. seated

   in a sitting position

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sittings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sitting

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at sit ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sitting sittings

Now put a portfolio sitting way out on the calendar into that year.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

In the summer of 2019, I was sitting in a stark hospital room, while a shrunken version of my mom laid in the bed in front of me.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

“There was always a flicker of hope, and I don’t think we ever gave up on that,” says a soft-spoken Green, 43, sitting next to Forte.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

My cousin tells a story: Several years before I was born, she was sitting on our great-grandmother’s lap at her modest home in a hollow in Eastern Kentucky.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

She cleared her throat again and then recited her poem to the people before her, sitting politely and expectantly.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors has written a relaxed and friendly book anyone can read in a few sittings.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Runcie, a former arts columnist for the Daily Telegraph, has created something so delightfully snackable that you may, as I did, gulp it down in two or three sittings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2025

The first season ended in April and dropped weekly, but waiting to gulp down episodes in a couple of sittings may be more rewarding than taking it in over a couple of months.

From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2025

Mr Benney had six official sittings with the Queen in the Garden Room at Clarence House.

From BBC ● May 6, 2025

He read the whole thing in ten sittings in his booth at Day’s and began pondering the whale’s nature at an early juncture.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• situated