sitting
Americannoun
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the act of a person or thing that sits.
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a period of remaining seated, as in posing for a portrait or reading a book.
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the space on or in which one sits, as in a church.
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a brooding, as of a hen upon eggs; incubation.
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the number of eggs on which a bird sits during a single hatching; clutch.
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a session, as of a court or legislature.
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the time or space allotted to the serving of a meal to a group, as aboard a ship.
adjective
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(of a bird) occupying a nest of eggs for hatching.
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of, for, or suited to sitting.
a sitting area in the lobby.
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holding an official position or office; occupying an appointed or elected seat; incumbent.
a sitting pontiff.
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in session or at work; active.
a sitting legislature.
idioms
noun
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a continuous period of being seated
I read his novel at one sitting
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such a period in a restaurant, canteen, etc, where space and other facilities are limited
dinner will be served in two sittings
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the act or period of posing for one's portrait to be painted, carved, etc
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a meeting, esp of an official body, to conduct business
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the incubation period of a bird's eggs during which the mother sits on them to keep them warm
adjective
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in office
a sitting Member of Parliament
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(of a hen) brooding eggs
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seated
in a sitting position
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sitting
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at sit 1, -ing 1, -ing 2
Vocabulary lists containing sitting
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.
"If SpaceX can do all the things it says it will do, yes, investors are sitting on the most valuable company ever," Kerr said.
From BBC • Jul. 13, 2026
Under the VAR system, officials sitting before a bank of monitors in a centralized control room review match footage in real time and advise the on-field referee of potential errors.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2026
That is what I found myself thinking about while sitting quietly on that Metro train: not anger, not revenge, but responsibility.
From Salon • Jul. 10, 2026
"At least two million potential buyers are sitting on the sidelines ready to buy if they can find the right option," she estimated.
From Barron's • Jul. 9, 2026
He was sitting in a shelter, tied to a roof post, without weapons or pack; and even if he got free, the camp was heavily guarded.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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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.