sitting

[ sit-ing ]

/ ˈsɪt ɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: sitting / sittings on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of a person or thing that sits.

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

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

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

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

a session, as of a court or legislature.

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

adjective

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

of, for, or suited to sitting: a sitting area in the lobby.

holding an official position or office; occupying an appointed or elected seat; incumbent: a sitting pontiff.

in session or at work; active: a sitting legislature.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for sitting

sitting pretty, in an auspicious position: He's been sitting pretty since he got that new job.

Origin of sitting

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at sit¹, -ing¹, -ing²

Words nearby sitting

sit spin, sittella, sitter, sit through, sit tight, sitting, Sitting Bull, sitting duck, sitting on a powder keg, sitting pretty, sitting room

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for sitting

Although we look forward to returning to normal sittings in our Courtroom, we have been able to stay current in our work.
Chief Justice Roberts, in year-end report, thanks judiciary for performance during pandemic|Robert Barnes|December 31, 2020|Washington Post
Two sets of friends dropped off food for Thanksgiving, more than Carrie and I could ever eat in one sitting.
As a food writer with covid, I worried I’d lose my sense of taste. It turned out to be much worse.|Tim Carman|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
I could polish off half a package in one sitting, completely defying any alleged dietary benefit.
The Rise and Fall of the Rice Cake, America’s One-Time Favorite Health Snack|Brenna Houck|September 17, 2020|Eater
Pretending to eat while secretly spitting out food, editing hours of footage to appear like a single sitting and vomiting between courses were among the tricks China Central Television revealed.
Why Is China Cracking Down on Food Waste?|Daniel Malloy|September 3, 2020|Ozy

Given that the satellite can see both ground stations for 285 seconds a day, that means that the satellite could transmit roughly 34 bits of data in a sitting.
China Takes Another Step Towards Uncrackable Quantum Communication|Edd Gent|June 15, 2020|Singularity Hub
And it might be what Islamists complain about while sitting in their caves.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And there are these three or four very mean Mexicans sitting next to us.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Elle magazine shot an editorial in September, one picture revealing a teacup pig sitting pretty by a mini Tyler Alexandra bag.
Handbags: The More You Pay, The Smaller They Shrink|Elizabeth Landers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I couldn't have imagined that I would actually be sitting with him, coincidentally at age 30, discussing the same issue.
Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar|Daniel Levin|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A worn couch sitting squarely before a wood veneer wall, accented by the head of a deer.
#Setinthestreet: Your Street Corner Is Their Art Project|James Joiner|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is to be feared that the attractions of the house-dinner were not the sole inducement to many of those sitting there.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
He chiefly divided his time between the House of Lords and sitting at home, lamenting over his own ill-starred existence.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
In the centre of the room is an oval table; some dozen men are sitting at it; as many more stand behind their chairs.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Outside the hotel he came upon the two sisters sitting on a bench and drinking coffee.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
We (the officers) were sitting in a circle round the general and Alcalde, both of whom appeared uneasy and anxious.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for sitting

sitting

/ (ˈsɪtɪŋ) /

noun

a continuous period of being seatedI read his novel at one sitting

such a period in a restaurant, canteen, etc, where space and other facilities are limiteddinner will be served in two sittings

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

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

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

adjective

in officea sitting Member of Parliament

(of a hen) brooding eggs

seatedin a sitting position

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

sitting

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Idioms for sitting

Origin of sitting

Words nearby sitting

Example sentences from the Web for sitting

British Dictionary definitions for sitting

noun

adjective

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

sitting

noun

adjective

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Idioms for sitting

Origin of sitting

Words nearby sitting

Words related to sitting

Example sentences from the Web for sitting

British Dictionary definitions for sitting

noun

adjective