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.

---

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

---

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

We’re doing OK, but we don’t have $40,000 sitting around anywhere.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

That particular relationship has come full circle, as Zverev was once a toddler sitting by the side of the court as Mischa practised with Andy Murray as a junior.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

To be clear, I’m not sitting here rubbing my hands with glee, thinking I’m immune to dementia or a heart attack and I’ll stay young forever.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

"Luckily, there's an experimental drug sitting on the shelf that's already been shown to be safe in humans," said Saltiel.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

And those that were not asleep were sitting there on straw-filled sacks looking up at me blankly as I passed by.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

It’s a trim book—you can read it in a couple of sittings or on a long flight—but it’s perhaps best enjoyed in small doses, a chapter or two at a time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

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

In a sense Opie does traditional portrait sittings, where the subject sits patiently still for the photographer.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2024

The sittings ended before the King's cancer was diagnosed.

From BBC ● May 14, 2024

Along with all this, I suppose I’m trying to say that I know how bitterly you resent the years when S. and I were regularly conducting home seminars, and the metaphysical sittings in particular.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• situated

---