sit
17 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of SIT
1
a
[no object]
:
to be in a position in which your bottom is resting on a chair, the ground, etc., especially with your back upright
-
He was sitting in a chair next to the window.
-
She sat across from me during dinner.
-
The children sat cross-legged on the floor playing a game.
-
Are you going to sit there and watch TV all day?
-
Don't just sit there—do/say something!
-
You can't expect young children to sit still [=sit without moving around] for that long.
b
[no object]
:
to begin to sit
:
to put yourself in a sitting position
-
He went over and sat [=sat down] in a chair next to the window.
-
She walked around the table and sat across from me.
c
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[+ object]
:
to cause (someone) to be seated
:
to put (someone) in a sitting position
-
She sat the toddler in the chair.
2
[no object]
a
of an animal
:
to rest with the tail end of the body on the floor and the front legs straight
-
The cat likes to sit by the window.
-
He taught the dog to sit (on command).
-
Sit! Good dog!
b
of a bird
:
to rest on the top or the edge of something
-
The bird sat on the ledge.
3
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to be or stay in a particular place, position, or condition
-
The limousine is sitting outside.
-
A vase sat on the table.
-
The sled sits unused in the garage during the summer.
4
[no object]
:
to be a member of an official group that has meetings
-
She sits on the board of directors.
5
[no object]
:
to meet in order to carry on official business
:
to hold a session
-
The court is now sitting.
-
Parliament will sit for four months.
6
[no object]
a
:
to take care of a child while the child's parents are away
:
babysit
-
She sits for the neighbors' kids. = She sits for the neighbors.
b
:
to take care of something while the owner is away
— usually used in combination
—
see also house-sit
-
Can you dog-sit [=take care of my dog] for me this weekend?
7
[+ object]
US
:
to have enough seats for (a certain number of people)
-
The car sits [=seats] five (people).
8
[no object]
:
to pose for a portrait, photograph, etc.
-
She agreed to sit for the painting/painter.
9
British
:
to take (an examination)
[+ object]
-
Students will sit the exam next week.
[no object]
-
The course prepares students to sit for the exam.
sit around
[phrasal verb] also chiefly British sit about
:
to spend time doing nothing useful
-
He sits around and does nothing while I do all the work.
-
She just sits around watching television all day.
sit back
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to get into a comfortable and relaxed position in a chair, seat, etc.
-
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
2
:
to make no effort to do something
-
He sat back and watched us do all the work.
-
How can you just sit back and let him insult you like that?
sit by
[phrasal verb]
:
to make no effort to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening
-
We cannot just sit by and watch him ruin his life.
-
I won't sit idly by while he ruins his life!
sit down
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to begin to sit
:
to put yourself into a sitting position
— sometimes used figuratively
-
She called just as we were sitting down to eat.
-
Come on in and sit down. [=have a seat]
-
Please sit down and be quiet.
-
We need to sit down and figure this problem out. [=we need to give our attention to figuring this problem out]
2
be sitting down
:
to be in a sitting position
-
She made sure everyone was sitting down before she began.
-
I have some shocking news. Are you sitting down?
3
sit (someone) down
:
to cause (someone) to be seated
:
to put or get (someone) in a sitting position
-
He sat the child down.
-
You need to sit him down and have a talk with him.
-
She sat herself down on the couch.
sit in
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to take the place of someone who is not present
-
The President could not attend the meeting, so the Vice President is sitting in. = The Vice President is sitting in for the President.
2
sit in on (something)
:
to attend (something, such as a class or meeting) without officially participating
-
She's been asked to sit in on the meetings.
-
I would like to sit in on one of your classes.
sit on
[phrasal verb]
sit on (something)
informal
:
to delay dealing with or talking about (something)
-
Let's sit on the problem for a while and see if anything changes.
-
They have been sitting on my insurance claim for months!
-
Let's just sit on this news for the time being.
sit on your hands
:
to make no effort to deal with or respond to something
-
She accused the administration of sitting on its hands while industries violated the law.
sit on your laurels
sit out
[phrasal verb]
1
sit out (something)
or
sit (something) out
:
to stay in a place and wait for (something) to end
-
Though the movie was very boring, he sat it out to see how it ended.
2
:
to not take part in (something)
-
She sat out several dances/practices.
-
You can start the game without me. I'm going to sit this one out.
sit pretty
informal
:
to be in a very good or favorable situation
— usually used as be sitting pretty
-
Our team sits pretty at the top of the rankings.
-
He bought stock in the company early on, and now he is sitting pretty.
sit through
[phrasal verb]
sit through (something)
:
to go to (something) and stay until the end
-
We had to sit through another boring meeting.
-
I can't believe the kids sat through the whole movie.
sit tight
1
:
to not move or change your position
:
to stay where you are
-
Sit tight, I'll go get help.
2
:
to not change your situation
:
to stay in the same situation
-
This isn't a good time to sell a house. Let's just sit tight and see if the market improves.
sit up
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to stay awake until late at night
-
They sat up talking until almost dawn.
2
:
to sit with your back very straight
-
Quit slouching and sit up (straight).
3
sit up
or
sit (someone) up
:
to move or help (someone) to move into a sitting position
-
He sat up in bed.
-
She sat the child up.
sit up and take notice
:
to suddenly pay attention to (someone or something)
-
The news made them sit up and take notice.
sit well/comfortably (etc.)
◊ If something does not sit well/comfortably (etc.) with you, you do not like it.
-
The decision didn't sit well with him.
-
That attitude doesn't sit comfortably with me.
