Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

sit

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
verb British English pronunciation: sit /sɪt/ 
Word Forms
Close
present tense
I/you/we/theysit
he/she/itsits
present participlesitting
past tensesat
past participlesat
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [intransitive] to be in a position in which the lower part of your body rests on a seat or on the ground, while the upper part of your body is upright
    sit on a chair/bench/stool:

    Matt sat on a park bench, eating his lunch.

    sit at a table/desk/computer:

    I was sitting at my computer when the phone rang.

    sit in:

    They were sitting in a café drinking coffee.

    sit together:

    My friends and I like to sit together in the canteen.

    sit next to someone:

    I usually sit next to Andrew in history.

    sit side by side:

    We sat side by side in the back seat.

    sit around:

    Six of us were sitting around the table talking.

    sit still:

    Sit still (=without moving) while I brush your hair, Lucy.

    just sit there (=not do anything):

    Are you going to just sit there, or are you going to help me?

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
    1. a.

      sit

       or

      sit down

       [intransitive] to lower your body into a sitting position

      He sat right on the cake.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
    2. b.
      [transitive] to put someone into a sitting position

      Joanna sat the child on her lap and read him a story.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
  2. 2
    [intransitive] to be in a particular situation or condition for a period of time

    They sat in silence, unable to look at each other.

    I ended up sitting in traffic for over an hour.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
  3. 3
    [intransitive] to be in a particular place

    The house sits on top of a hill overlooking the countryside.

    The tins looked as though they had been sitting on the shelf for months.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
  5. 5
    [transitive] British to take an examination

    I'm sitting my French exam tomorrow.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
  6. 6
    [intransitive] to be a model for a painter or a photographer
    sit for:

    She earns money sitting for artists.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit
  7. 7
    [intransitive] informal to babysit
    sit for:

    I'm sitting for the Richardsons tomorrow night.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of sit

phrases

See also

This is the British English definition of sit. View American English definition of sit.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for sit.

 

caxirola

a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

emancipation

the process of giving freedom and rights to someone

Open Dictionary

pierce the corporate veil

… the decision to treat the rights and duties of a company as being the same as the rights and duties of its shareholders

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog