sit (sɪt
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: sits, sitting, sat
(mainly intr) - (also tr; when intr, often foll by down, in, or on) to adopt or rest in a posture in which the body is supported on the buttocks and thighs and the torso is more or less upright ⇒
to sit on a chair
sit a horse
- (tr) to cause to adopt such a posture
- (of an animal) to adopt or rest in a posture with the hindquarters lowered to the ground
- (of a bird) to perch or roost
- (of a hen or other bird) to cover eggs to hatch them; brood
- to be situated or located
- (of the wind) to blow from the direction specified
- to adopt and maintain a posture for one's portrait to be painted, etc
- to occupy or be entitled to a seat in some official capacity, as a judge, elected representative, etc
- (of a deliberative body) to be convened or in session
- to remain inactive or unused ⇒
his car sat in the garage for a year
- to rest or lie as specified ⇒
the nut was sitting so awkwardly that he couldn't turn it
- (of a garment) to fit or hang as specified ⇒
that dress sits well on you
- to weigh, rest, or lie as specified ⇒
greatness sits easily on him
- (tr) mainly British to take (an examination) ⇒
he's sitting his bar finals
- (usually foll by for) mainly British to be a candidate (for a qualification) ⇒
he's sitting for a BA
- (intr; in combination) to look after a specified person or thing for someone else ⇒
granny-sit
- (tr) to have seating capacity for
- See sitting pretty
- See sit tight
Word Origin
Old English sittan; related to Old Norse sitja, Gothic sitan, Old High German sizzen, Latin sedēre to sit, Sanskrit sīdati he sitsSynonyms
View thesaurus entry= take a seat
perch,
settle down,
be seated take a pew plant yourself park yourself plonk yourself take the weight off your feet install yourself ensconce yourself
= be a member of serve on have a seat on preside on
=
babysit,
childmind
Translations
- British English:
sit
If you are sitting somewhere, for example in a chair, your weight is supported by your buttocks rather than your feet.He was sitting on the floor.sɪt VERB He was sitting on the floor.
- Spanish:
sentarse
v
- French: être assis vi être assise
- German:
sitzen
v
- Chinese: 坐 vi
- Arabic: يَقْعِدُ vi
- Portuguese: sentar-se vi
- Russian: сидеть vi
- Croatian: sjediti v
- Czech: sedět vi
- Danish: sidde v
- Dutch: zitten vi
- Finnish: istua v
- Greek: κάθομαι v
- Italian: sedere v
- Japanese: 座る v
- Korean: 앉다 vi
- Norwegian: sitte v
- Polish: usiąść vi siadać
- Brazilian Portuguese: sentar-se vi
- European Spanish:
sentarse
v
- Swedish: sitta vi
- Thai: นั่ง vi
- Turkish: oturmak vi
- Vietnamese: ngồi v
Usage examples
But I'd rather be afraid and do something than just sit and wait for terrible things to happen.
, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)Don't sit right at the front but tuck in behind someone you know is a good rider and follow them.
Cycling Weekly (2004)A court has to have statutory authority to sit in camera, sources said.
Irish Times (2002)And a nice bottle of plonk, and to just sit and chat and talk about the world.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Go and sit quietly in the garden and know that things will eventually fall into place.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)