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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | sittan |
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Related topics: Painting and Drawingsit S1 W1
past tense and past participle sat
, present participle sitting
past tense and past participle sat
, present participle sitting1
in a chair etc
a) also be sitting down [intransitive] to be on a chair or seat, or on the ground, with the top half of your body upright and your weight resting on your buttocks
sit on/in/by etc 
I sat on the shore and looked at the sea.She was sitting in a chair by the fire. She's the girl who sits next to me at school. In the driving seat sat a man of average height.
I sat on the shore and looked at the sea.She was sitting in a chair by the fire.She's the girl who sits next to me at school.In the driving seat sat a man of average height.b) also sit down [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to get into a sitting position somewhere after you have been standing up : He came over and sat beside her. Sam sat opposite her and accepted a cigarette.
He came over and sat beside her.Sam sat opposite her and accepted a cigarette.c) also sit somebody down [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone sit or help them to sit
2 to be in a particular position or condition My climbing boots were sitting unused in a cupboard.
objects/buildings etc
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] sit on/in etc a little church sitting on a hillside The parliament building sits in a large square. He's got a computer sitting on his desk, but he doesn't use it.
a little church sitting on a hillsideThe parliament building sits in a large square.He's got a computer sitting on his desk, but he doesn't use it.My climbing boots were sitting unused in a cupboard.3 to stay in one place for a long time, especially sitting down, doing nothing useful or helpful : I spent half the morning sitting in a traffic jam.
do nothing
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]I spent half the morning sitting in a traffic jam.4 to be a member of a committee, parliament, or other official group
committee/parliament etc
[intransitive] sit in/on They both sat on the management committee. He was the first journalist to sit in parliament.
They both sat on the management committee.He was the first journalist to sit in parliament.5 to have a meeting in order to carry out official business : The council only sits once a month. The court will sit until all the evidence has been heard.
meeting
[intransitive]The council only sits once a month.The court will sit until all the evidence has been heard.6
animal/bird
[intransitive always + adverb/preposition]a) to be in, or get into, a resting position, with the tail end of the body resting on a surface : The cat likes to sit on the wall outside the kitchen.
The cat likes to sit on the wall outside the kitchen.c) if a bird sits on its eggs, it covers them with its body to make the eggs hatch
7 to look after a baby or child while its parents are out [= babysit]
look after
[intransitive + for]8
sit tight
spokena) to stay where you are and not move : Just sit tight - I'll be there in five minutes.
Just sit tight - I'll be there in five minutes.b) to stay in the same situation, and not change your mind and do anything new : We're advising all our investors to sit tight till the market improves.
We're advising all our investors to sit tight till the market improves.9 to be in a very good or favourable position : We've paid off the mortgage, so we're sitting pretty now.
be sitting pretty
We've paid off the mortgage, so we're sitting pretty now.10 to give your opinion about whether someone has done something wrong, especially when you have no right to do this : How can you sit in judgement on somebody you hardly know?
sit in judgment (on/over somebody)
How can you sit in judgement on somebody you hardly know?11 if a situation, plan etc does not sit well with someone, they do not like it : He had never before been accused of stealing, and it did not sit well with him.
not sit well/easily/comfortably (with somebody)
He had never before been accused of stealing, and it did not sit well with him.12 to avoid saying which side of an argument you support or what your opinion is about a particular subject : The weakness of the book is that it sits on the fence on important issues.
sit on the fence
The weakness of the book is that it sits on the fence on important issues.13 to delay taking action when you should do something : Workers are losing their jobs while the government sits on its hands and does nothing.
sit on your hands
Workers are losing their jobs while the government sits on its hands and does nothing.14 to take an examination : Tracy's sitting her GCSEs this year.
exams
[intransitive and transitive] British EnglishTracy's sitting her GCSEs this year.15 to sit somewhere so that you can be painted or photographed
picture/photo
[intransitive]AVP sit for She sat for (=was painted by) Holman Hunt and Millais.
She sat for (=was painted by) Holman Hunt and Millais.sit around
phrasal verbWe sat around for a bit, chatting.sit back
phrasal verb1 to get into a comfortable position, for example in a chair, and relax :
2 to relax and make no effort to get involved in something or influence what happens :
sit by
phrasal verbI'm not going to sit by and watch a man go to prison for something I've done.sit down
phrasal verb1 to be in a sitting position or get into a sitting position : It was good to be sitting down eating dinner with my family. Sit down, Amy - you look tired.
It was good to be sitting down eating dinner with my family.Sit down, Amy - you look tired.3 to try to solve a problem or deal with something that needs to be done, by giving it all your attention : The three of us need to sit down and have a talk. Sit down and work out just what you spend.
sit down and do something
The three of us need to sit down and have a talk.Sit down and work out just what you spend.sit in
phrasal verbsit in for somebody
phrasal verbThis is Alan James sitting in for Suzy Williams on the mid-morning show.sit on something
phrasal verbI sent my application about six weeks ago and they've just been sitting on it.sit something ↔ out
phrasal verb1 to stay where you are and do nothing until something finishes, especially something boring or unpleasant : She was prepared to sit out the years of Jack's jail sentence.
She was prepared to sit out the years of Jack's jail sentence.2 to not take part in something, especially a game or dance, when you usually take part : Johnson sat out the game with a shoulder injury.
Johnson sat out the game with a shoulder injury.sit through something
phrasal verbI wasn't the least bit interested in all the speeches I had to sit through.sit up
phrasal verb1 to be in a sitting position or get into a sitting position after you have been lying down : He was sitting up in bed, reading his book. She sat up and reached for her glass.
He was sitting up in bed, reading his book.She sat up and reached for her glass.4 to stay up very late : Sometimes we just sit up and watch videos all night.
Sometimes we just sit up and watch videos all night.5 to suddenly start paying attention to someone, because they have done something surprising or impressive : If Maria succeeded, then everyone would sit up and take notice.
sit up (and take notice)
If Maria succeeded, then everyone would sit up and take notice.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
sit, sit down, sit in/on, seat You usually use sit down rather than sit to say that someone moves into a sitting position • Everyone sat down to listen. You use sit when you mention where someone sits down • She sat next to me. • Where shall I sit?!! You sit on or sit in a chair, depending on whether it is flat and simple or soft and comfortable • We sat on barstools. • He sat in his favourite armchair. You sit on flat things such as a bench, the floor, or the grass. You sit in a room, a corner, long grass, a tree, or a seat in a car • I get travel sick when I sit in the back.!! To tell someone to sit down, say 'Sit down', 'Have a seat', or in very formal situations, 'Be seated'. You usually only say 'Sit!' to a dog.
WORD CHOICE: sit, sit down, sit in/on, seat You usually use sit down rather than sit to say that someone moves into a sitting position • Everyone sat down to listen. You use sit when you mention where someone sits down • She sat next to me. • Where shall I sit?!! You sit on or sit in a chair, depending on whether it is flat and simple or soft and comfortable • We sat on barstools. • He sat in his favourite armchair. You sit on flat things such as a bench, the floor, or the grass. You sit in a room, a corner, long grass, a tree, or a seat in a car • I get travel sick when I sit in the back.!! To tell someone to sit down, say 'Sit down', 'Have a seat', or in very formal situations, 'Be seated'. You usually only say 'Sit!' to a dog.
