sitting

[sit-ing]

noun

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.

sitting

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sitting¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sitting pretty, in an auspicious position.

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

Example Sentences

“Anywhere we went after that, I noticed that Kiarostami would choose where he’s sitting in a way that he would be facing nature,” Panahi recalls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And they are making hard work of even reaching the World Cup, sitting above Slovakia only on goal difference in Group A.

Read more on BBC

“The guy would drink whole jugs of vodka and cranberry,” Osbourne tells us, “and while he was sitting there, waiting for ’em to be made, he’d get through a six-pack of beer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In his 15-page review, Lord Morse concluded that a decision to limit building work to times when the House of Lords was not sitting was key factor in the delays.

Read more on BBC

Mr Baker, a father-of-two, was sitting in the front passenger seat of a stolen car in which an imitation firearm was later found.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• situated