squat

[ skwot ]

/ skwɒt /

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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

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use squat in a sentence

Then all subjects did a three-minute unsupported wall-squat with legs bent to nearly 90 degrees.
Exercise Blocks Pain, But Only For Believers|Alex Hutchinson|December 9, 2020|Outside Online
Before and after the squat, they did a series of tests to measure pain perception.
Exercise Blocks Pain, But Only For Believers|Alex Hutchinson|December 9, 2020|Outside Online
The trouble began about nine miles northwest of the New York Stock Exchange, in a squat, unremarkable building.
Pandemic-fueled day trading is overwhelming online brokers—and the traders are fuming|matthewheimer|December 9, 2020|Fortune
He had found his dad’s old catcher’s mitt and raised his hand when a youth coach asked for someone, anyone, to squat behind the plate.
Spencer Kieboom built his life around baseball. Then he quietly walked away.|Jesse Dougherty|November 30, 2020|Washington Post

Single-leg deadlifts and pistol squats, for instance, can be difficult no matter how much weight you’re moving.
You should definitely rotate your workouts|John Kennedy|September 28, 2020|Popular-Science
Gingerly, about 30 couples lay down and squatted on mats and rugs for the mass face-sit.
Britain’s Record-Breaking Face-Sitting Porn Protest|Nico Hines|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A fat red turret squatted at each corner of the building; six slender ones overlooked the parapets and gables.
The GOP’s Last Identity Crisis Remade U.S. Politics|Michael Wolraich|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We squatted in the long grass and buck-brush, listening, and a few seconds later heard a horse snort distinctly.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Squinty squatted down beside one, and, with his strong teeth, he soon had bitten a hole in the cloth.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
All her years she had squatted and waddled there upon the island, gathering legends of the Baratarians and the sea.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
The thick torso of a man who squatted like a toad could be seen partly emerging from the shrubs.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
At the invitation of the blonde stenographer at the desk, he squatted on a chair and lighted a cigarette.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

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 related to squat

How to use squat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for squat

Derived forms of squat

Word Origin for squat