squat

[ skwot ]

/ skwɒt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: squat / squatted / squatter / squatting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), squat·ted or squat, squat·ting.

to sit in a low or crouching position with the legs drawn up closely beneath or in front of the body; sit on one's haunches or heels.

to crouch down or cower, as an animal.

to settle on or occupy property, especially otherwise unoccupied property, without any title, right, or payment of rent.

to settle on public land under government regulation, in order to acquire title.

Nautical. (of a vessel, especially a power vessel) to draw more water astern when in motion forward than when at rest.

verb (used with object), squat·ted or squat, squat·ting.

to cause to squat.

to occupy (property) as a squatter.

adjective, squat·ter, squat·test.

(of a person, animal, the body, etc.) short and thickset.

low and thick or broad: The building had a squat shape.

seated or being in a squatting position; crouching.

noun

the act or fact of squatting.

a squatting position or posture.

a weightlifting exercise in which a person squats and then returns to an erect position while holding a barbell at the back of the shoulders.

Nautical. the tendency of a vessel to draw more water astern when in motion than when stationary.

Slang. diddly-squat.

a place occupied by squatters.

OTHER WORDS FOR squat

8 dumpy, stocky, blocky.

See synonyms for squat on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SPRINT TO THE FINISH WITH THIS OLYMPICS QUIZ!

Compete in our Olympics quiz to see if you can take home the gold medal in Olympics knowledge.

Question 1 of 10

Where was the Olympics first held?

ancient Rome

ancient Greece

ancient Persia

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of squat

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (verb) squatten, from Old French esquater, esquatir, equivalent to es- + quatir, from unattested Vulgar Latin coactīre “to compress,” equivalent to Latin coāct(us), past participle of cōgere “to compress” (co- + ag(ere) “to drive” + -tus past participle suffix) + -īre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb; see origin at ex-¹, co-

OTHER WORDS FROM squat

squat·ly, adverbsquat·ness, noun

Words nearby squat

squash bug, squash ladder, squash vine borer, squashy, squassation, squat, squatter, squatter sovereignty, squatter's right, squat thrust, squattocracy

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

How to use squat in a sentence

As you jump, switch your leg position in the air and land with soft knees in the opposite split-squat stance.
How to Train Power for the Lower Body|Hayden Carpenter|January 27, 2021|Outside Online
Grasp the door frame with one arm extended in front of you, and perform a squat, keeping resistance through your arm as you stand back up.
Indoor exercises to prepare you for hiking the great outdoors|Pam Moore|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
OK, legs a little tired, gonna squat down here, maybe just take a knee.
Optimal Methods for Never Recovering After Your Workout|Brendan Leonard|January 24, 2021|Outside Online
To do this, they measure joint angles while the subjects do an unloaded half-squat.
There’s a New Way to Choose the Right Running Shoe|Alex Hutchinson|January 5, 2021|Outside Online

This might look like a minute of burpees followed by two minutes of recovery or 20 seconds of jump squats followed by a minute of recovery.
Some trainers tout HIIT as the best way to burn belly fat. Here’s what science says.|Pam Moore|December 15, 2020|Washington Post
The fitness coaches at a globo-gym like Gold's would notice that a user was struggling with their squat or treadmill run.
Amiigo Tracker Pairs Data With Deadlifts|Gregory Ferenstein|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The barracks is a squat building surrounded by sandbags on a side street near the city center.
Ukraine’s Pro-Putin Rebels Prepare for a Last Stand|David Patrikarakos|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There may well be a chill here, but it has diddly-squat to do with the one Senator Alexander fears.
The Republican Street Fight Over Transparency in Government|Lawrence Lessig|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Deep Squat—For most squats you want to get your thighs parallel with the ground but for a deep squat you go ALL the way down.
Squats: The Absolutely Incredible Secret to Staying in Shape|Ari Meisel|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The only difference is that you jump straight up and then land in a squat position.
Squats: The Absolutely Incredible Secret to Staying in Shape|Ari Meisel|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Neither of us spoke again, and at length the squat log buildings of Pend d' Oreille loomed ahead of us in the night.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Madame Antoine seated her fat body, broad and squat, upon a bench beside the door.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
Kerry crossed the room, laid his oilskin and cane upon a chair, and from the shelf where it reposed took a squat volume.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
These people simply squat down wherever they can find a natural catchment for water.
Campaign Pictures of the War in South Africa (1899-1900)|A. G. Hales
I could not feel comfortable in the seats and lounges, as they were very low, requiring an oriental squat at which I am not adept.
Valley of the Croen|Lee Tarbell

British Dictionary definitions for squat

squat

/ (skwɒt) /

verb squats, squatting or squatted (intr)

to rest in a crouching position with the knees bent and the weight on the feet

to crouch down, esp in order to hide

law (tr) to occupy land or property to which the occupant has no legal title

weightlifting to crouch down to one's knees and rise to a standing position while holding (a specified weight) behind one's neck

adjective

Also: squatty (ˈskwɒtɪ) short and broada squat chair

noun

a squatting position

weightlifting an exercise in which a person crouches down and rises up repeatedly while holding a barbell at shoulder height

a house occupied by squatters

Derived forms of squat

squatly, adverbsquatness, noun

Word Origin for squat

C13: from Old French esquater, from es- ex- 1 + catir to press together, from Vulgar Latin coactīre (unattested), from Latin cōgere to compress, from co- + agere to drive

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

squat

OTHER WORDS FOR squat

Origin of squat

OTHER WORDS FROM squat

Words nearby squat

Words related to squat

How to use squat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for squat

Derived forms of squat

Word Origin for squat