Pronunciations
-
/sɪt/
Verb
To be in a position in which the upper body is upright and supported by the buttocks.
Usage- copulative
- Intransitive
- of a person
- Examples
-
I am sitting on the chair.
After a long day of walking, it was good just to sit and relax.
You're finishing the chowder if you sit there (motionless) all evening!
To move oneself into such a position.
Usage- Intransitive
- of a person
- Examples
-
I asked him to sit.
To occupy a given position.
Usage- Intransitive
- of an object
- Examples
-
The dishes are still sitting on the table!
The temple has sat atop that hill for centuries.
More examples (2)
Jim's pet parrot sat on his left shoulder.
The Yellow Sea sits between the Korean Peninsula and China.
To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition.
Usage- copulative
- Intransitive
- Examples
-
And Moses said to […] the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
Like a demigod here sit I in the sky.
To be a member of a deliberative body.
- Examples
-
I currently sit on a standards committee.
Of a legislative or, especially, a judicial body such as a court, to be in session.
- Examples
-
In what city is the circuit court sitting for this session?
To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh.
- Examples
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The calamity sits heavy on us.
To be adjusted; to fit.
- Examples
-
Your new coat sits well.
This new and gorgeous garment, majesty, / Sits not so easy on me as you think.
To be accepted or acceptable; to work.
Usage- Intransitive
- of an agreement or arrangement
- Examples
-
How will this new contract sit with the workers?
I don’t think it will sit well.
More examples (1)
The violence in these video games sits awkwardly with their stated aim of educating children.
To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to.
Usage- causative
- Transitive
- Examples
-
Sit him in front of the TV and he might watch for hours.
To accommodate in seats; to seat.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
-
The dining room table sits eight comfortably.
I sat me weary on a pillar's base, / And leaned against the shaft
To take, to undergo or complete (an examination or test).
Usage- Australia
- New-Zealand
- UK usage
- Transitive
To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate.
- Examples
-
The partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not.
To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of oneself made, such as a picture or a bust.
- Examples
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I'm sitting for a painter this evening.
To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction.
- Examples
-
like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits
Sits the wind in that quarter?
To keep one's seat when faced with (a blow, attack); to endure, to put up with.
Usage- Obsolete
- Transitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Louisa, who […] had but ill born the commencement of this conversation, could sit it no longer, and hastily throwing up the sash, complained of the intense heat of the room.
Noun
An act of sitting.
Subsidence of the roof of a coal mine.
An event, usually lasting one full day or more, where the primary goal is to sit in meditation.
Usage- Rare
Verb
be in a position in which one's upper body is largely upright and supported by one's backside
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
be around, often idly or without specific purpose
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The object sat in the corner
We sat around chatting for another hour
take a seat
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
be in session
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
When does the court of law sit?
assume a posture as for artistic purposes
- Examples
-
We don't know the woman who posed for Leonardo so often
sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
- Synonyms
- Examples
-
She never sat a horse!
Did you ever ride a camel?
More examples (1)
The girl liked to drive the young mare
be located or situated somewhere
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
The White House sits on Pennsylvania Avenue
work or act as a baby-sitter
- Broader terms
- Examples
-
I cannot baby-sit tonight: I have too much homework to do
show to a seat; assign a seat for
- Examples
-
The host seated me next to Mrs. Smith
serve in a specific professional capacity
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the priest sat for confession
she sat on the jury