sitsit /sɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle sat /sæt/, present participle sitting) 
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.sit at a desk/table etc (=sit facing it) Jean sat at the table writing a letter.sit doing something They sat sipping their drinks. We used to sit and listen to her for hours. 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. c) (also sit somebody down) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone sit, or help them to sitsit somebody on/in etc something I gently led her to the chair and sat her on it.2objects/buildings etc [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to be in a particular position or conditionsit 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. My climbing boots were sitting unused in a cupboard. The house has sat empty for two years.3do nothing [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] 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. Well, I can’t sit here chatting all day. Are you just going to sit there complaining?4committee/parliament etc [intransitive] to be a member of a committee, parliament, or other official groupsit in/on They both sat on the management committee. He was the first journalist to sit in parliament.5meeting [intransitive] 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.6animal/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. b) Sit! used to tell a dog to sit with the tail end of its body resting on the ground or floor c)if a bird sits on its eggs, it covers them with its body to make the eggs hatch7look after [intransitive + for] to look after a baby or child while its parents are out SYN babysit8sit tight spoken a)to stay where you are and not move: 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.9be sitting pretty to be in a very good or favourable position: We’ve paid off the mortgage, so we’re sitting pretty now.10sit in judgment (on/over somebody) 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 judgment on somebody you hardly know?11not sit well/easily/comfortably (with somebody) 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.12sit on the fence 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.13sit on your hands to delay taking action when you should do something: Workers are losing their jobs while the government sits on its hands and does nothing.14exams [intransitive, transitive] British English to take an examination: Tracy’s sitting her GCSEs this year.sit for They were preparing children to sit for the entry examination.15picture/photo [intransitive] to sit somewhere so that you can be painted or photographedsit for She sat for (=was painted by) Holman Hunt and Millais.COLLOCATIONSadverbssit still (=without moving)· Young children find it almost impossible to sit still.sit quietly (=without talking)· Mac sat quietly in the back of the car.be sitting comfortably· She was sitting comfortably on the sofa.sit up straight/sit upright (=with your back straight)· Sit up straight at the table, Maddie.sit bolt upright (=suddenly sit up very straight, for example because you hear something)· Suddenly she sat bolt upright and said, ‘What was that?’sit cross-legged (=with your legs bent and crossed over in front of you)· She sat cross-legged on the grass.THESAURUSsit to be resting your weight on your bottom somewhere, or to move into this position: · He was sitting in front of the fire.· She sat on the bed and kicked off her shoes.· Who is the man sitting next to Karen?sit down to sit on a chair, bed, floor etc after you have been standing: · I sat down on the sofa.· Come in and sit down.be seated formal to be sitting in a particular chair or place: · John was seated on my left.· There was a man seated behind the desk.take a seat to sit – used especially when asking someone to sit down: · Please take a seat – she will be with you in a minute.· Would the audience please take their seats – the show will begin in five minutes.sink into something to sit in a comfortable chair and let yourself fall back into it: · We switched on the TV and sank into our armchairs.lounge to sit in a very comfortable relaxed way: · They lounged around all day by the pool.perch to sit on the edge of something: · He perched on the arm of the sofa.· My sister was perched (=was sitting) on a high stool.be slumped to be sitting while leaning against something, especially because you are injured, drunk, or asleep: · They found him slumped against the steering wheel.squat to sit with your knees bent under you, your bottom just off the ground, balancing on your feet: · A little boy was squatting at the edge of the pool.sit around (also sit about British English) phrasal verb to spend a lot of time sitting and doing nothing very useful: We sat around for a bit, chatting.sit back phrasal verb1to get into a comfortable position, for example in a chair, and relax: Sit back and relax – I’ll open a bottle of wine.2to relax and make no effort to get involved in something or influence what happens: Don’t just sit back and wait for new business to come to you.sit by phrasal verb to allow something wrong or illegal to happen without doing anything about it: I’m not going to sit by and watch a man go to prison for something I’ve done.sit down phrasal verb1to 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.sit yourself down Sit yourself down and have a drink.2sit somebody down to make someone sit down or help them to sit downsit down in/on I helped her into the room and sat her down in an armchair.3sit down and do something 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 in phrasal verb to be present at a meeting but not take an active part in itsit in on Would you like to sit in on some of my interviews?sit in for somebody phrasal verb to do a job, go to a meeting etc instead of the person who usually does it: This is Alan James sitting in for Suzy Williams on the mid-morning show.sit on something phrasal verb informal to delay dealing with something: I sent my application about six weeks ago and they’ve just been sitting on it.sit something ↔ out phrasal verb1to stay where you are and do nothing until something finishes, especially something boring or unpleasant: She had two weeks to sit it out while she waited to hear if she had got the job. She was prepared to sit out the years of Jack’s jail sentence.2to not take part in something, especially a game or dance, when you usually take part: Johnson sat out the game with a shoulder injury.sit through something phrasal verb to attend a meeting, performance etc, and stay until the end, even if it is very long and boring: I wasn’t the least bit interested in all the speeches I had to sit through.sit up phrasal verb1to 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.2 sit somebody up to help someone to sit after they have been lying downsit up in/on etc I’ll sit you up on the pillows and you’ll be nice and comfortable.3to sit in a chair with your back straight: Just sit up straight and stop slouching.4to stay up very late: Sometimes we just sit up and watch videos all night.5sit up (and take notice) 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.
WORD ORIGINsit
Origin:
Old English sittanVERB TABLE
sit
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | sit |
| he, she, it | sits | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | sat |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have sat |
| he, she, it | has sat | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had sat |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will sit |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have sat |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am sitting |
| he, she, it | is sitting | |
| you, we, they | are sitting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was sitting |
| you, we, they | were sitting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been sitting |
| he, she, it | has been sitting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been sitting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be sitting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been sitting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A woman in a huge hat came and sat right in front of us.
- After a few days, he was finally allowed to sit up in bed.
- An grey-haired woman was sitting at the reception desk.
- Billy sat on the edge of the desk, swinging his legs.
- Come and sit next to me -- I haven't seen you for ages.
- Come and sit on Mommy's knee.
- Do you want to sit next to Brian?
- He sat down right beside me.
- I sat my final exams last year.
- I saw a man with grey hair sitting in the car next to Jean.
- I wish you children would sit still for 10 minutes.
- Is it okay if I sit here?
- It's so hot in here. Shall we go and sit by the window?
- Jeff's dog sat next to his chair as we talked.
- Let's go sit outside.
- The Court of Appeals sits in San Francisco.
- We all used to sit around the kitchen table, smoking and chatting.
- Claude and Ruth were talking quietly with Pat, who sat cross-legged on the sofa.
- He sat thinking how he was stuck with her, how there was no privacy in this house for emergency situations.
- He came over to me, picked up the piece of paper before me, and sat back down on the bed.
- Peter would have liked to sit next to Kate but he had lacked the necessary social agility to secure the centre position.
- Riker and I and Reacher and the gunner sat around the Huey and ate lunch.
- Taking the book to the chair by the fire, Alexandra sat down with it in her hand.
- The cistern of the close-coupled design sits on top of the pan and is connected directly to it.
- The power struggle went on for about a minute, then the Archon sat down.
THESAURUS
to be resting your weight on your bottom somewhere, or to move into this position: · He was sitting in front of the fire.· She sat on the bed and kicked off her shoes.· Who is the man sitting next to Karen?
to sit on a chair, bed, floor etc after you have been standing: · I sat down on the sofa.· Come in and sit down.
formal to be sitting in a particular chair or place: · John was seated on my left.· There was a man seated behind the desk.
to sit – used especially when asking someone to sit down: · Please take a seat – she will be with you in a minute.· Would the audience please take their seats – the show will begin in five minutes.
to sit in a comfortable chair and let yourself fall back into it: · We switched on the TV and sank into our armchairs.
to sit in a very comfortable relaxed way: · They lounged around all day by the pool.
to sit on the edge of something: · He perched on the arm of the sofa.· My sister was perched (=was sitting) on a high stool.
to be sitting while leaning against something, especially because you are injured, drunk, or asleep: · They found him slumped against the steering wheel.
to sit with your knees bent under you, your bottom just off the ground, balancing on your feet: · A little boy was squatting at the edge of the pool.
Longman Language Activatorto be sitting in a chair, on the floor etc to be in a chair, on the floor etc, with the weight of your body resting on your bottom, not on your feet: · Is it okay if I sit here?· Do you want to sit next to Brian?· Let's go sit outside.· A woman in a huge hat came and sat right in front of us.· Billy sat on the edge of the desk, swinging his legs.· I saw a man with grey hair sitting in the car next to Jean.· Come and sit on Mommy's knee.sit at a desk/table/bar/fire etc: · A grey-haired woman was sitting at the reception desk.sit around a desk/table etc: · We all used to sit around the kitchen table, smoking and chatting.sit still (=sit quietly without moving): · I wish you children would sit still for 10 minutes.
to move your body so that you are sitting, after you have been lying down, or to sit so that your back is straight: · When I got home, Nigel was sitting up in bed.· Sit up like a big girl, and eat your dinner.sit up straight (=sit with your back very straight): · Cadets here are taught to always dress neatly and to sit up straight.
to lean your back against the back of the chair, after you have been sitting straight, especially because this is more comfortable: · Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the music.· Mel sat back on the couch and admired the view of the city.
formal to be sitting in a particular chair or place, especially because someone has asked or arranged for you to sit there: · The meal cannot start until everyone is seated.· John was seated on my left.· Helen was more than pleased to be seated beside Chris. She'd always wanted to meet him.
to sit so that you are very comfortable and relaxed, sometimes almost lying down: lounge on: · I dried off, then lounged on a hammock at the poolside.lounge in: · Are you the sort of person who likes to lounge in bed at the weekend?
/be slumped to be sitting with the top of your body leaning forwards or sideways and down, as if you are very tired or as if you are unconscious: slump forward/in/against etc: · He slumped further forward, his lips parted and his eyes closed.· She slumped back in her seat.be slumped in/on/under etc: · Brad was slumped in front of the television watching the game.· Theresa found him slumped over the keyboard.sit slumped: · A young man sat slumped behind the hotel desk, showing little interest in the new arrivals.
to sit in a tired or lazy way, often with your head down and your shoulders sloping downwards: · Marie, don't slouch, sit up straight.slouch back/against/in etc: · Cantor slouched back in his seat and lit a cigarette.· I slouched on a bench and watched the children feed the swans.be slouched in/over/beside etc : · One boy was slouched down in his chair, with a baseball cap almost covering his eyes.
to sit after you have been standing to sit on a chair, bed, floor etc, after you have been standing: · Come in and sit down.· Oh, it's nice to sit down after all that waiting.· Fay sat down on the edge of the bed.· Pull up a chair, and sit down right here.
to sit in a particular place or position after you have been standing: sit beside/against/next to etc: · It's so hot in here. Shall we go and sit by the window?· Come and sit next to me -- I haven't seen you for ages.· He sat down right beside me.sit up (=sit after lying down): · After a few days, he was finally allowed to sit up in bed.
to sit down in your chair in a public place such as a theatre or cinema, so that you can watch a play, film, ceremony etc: · Would the audience please take their seats -- the show will begin in five minutes.· She waved before taking her seat at the back of the church.
to sit in a comfortable chair, by letting yourself fall back into it, especially because you are tired: · It had been an exhausting day. Christina gratefully sank into the armchair and kicked off her shoes.
to sit with your legs in a particular position also kneel down to be or move into a position in which your knees are on the floor and your body is upright: · He told them to kneel, then began to say a prayer.· Grandpa knelt down and lifted the little girl into his arms.· An old woman was kneeling at the altar, her hands clasping a rosary.· You'll need to bring a small mat to kneel on.
to sit on the ground or floor with your knees bent and your feet crossed in front of you: · Several children sat cross-legged on the floor in front of her.· They were sitting on the bed cross-legged and giggling.
also squat down to put your body into a position in which your feet are flat on the ground, your knees are bent up to your chest, and your bottom is off the ground, or to move into this position: · A little boy was squatting at the edge of the pool.· People squatted around the fire in small groups· He squatted down beside me and offered me a cigarette.
to sit on something or someone, with one leg on each side: · He sat astride a motorcycle.· He pinned her to the ground by her shoulders, sitting astride her so that she couldn't move.
to sit on someone or something with one leg on each side, especially when you have to stretch a long way to do this: · He sat facing her, straddling the small wooden chair.· I looked up to see her straddling one of the huge branches of the oak tree.
a place where you can sit something you can sit on, especially in a bus, plane, theatre etc: · Our seats were right at the front of the airplane.· He leaned back in his seat and lit a cigarette.· When we arrived, every seat was filled, so we stood at the back.· There was blood and broken glass all over the front seats.· 'Slow down!' yelled Ben from the back seat.· comfortable padded theater seats
a particular seat where you sit for a formal meal or in a public place - use this especially to talk about whether seats are available: · We'd better hurry and get to our places before the show starts.· I don't think there are enough places for everyone.take your place (=sit in the seat that you are expected to sit in): · Jennifer quietly took her place at the table.
what you say to tell someone to sit spoken · Sit down -- I have some bad news for you.· Sit down and finish your breakfast.
spoken say this to politely ask someone to sit down, especially someone you do not know well: · Take a seat. Mr Bennet will be available in a moment.· You'd better have a seat, Mr Hanks. This may take some time.
formal say this to a group of people to ask them politely to sit down, especially at a public occasion or ceremony: · Would the audience please be seated.· Please do be seated. This won't take a moment.
spoken say this to a dog when you want it to sit down: · Sit, Bowser, sit! Good dog!
something that is done while sitting if someone is sedentary or they have a sedentary job, they spend most of their time sitting down: · The exercise program was aimed at men in their fifties and sixties who were previously sedentary.· People with sedentary jobs generally need to eat less than those in very active occupations.· health problems caused by a sedentary lifestyle
: sit-down meal/dinner etc a meal etc in which everyone in a group, usually a large group, sits at tables: · We usually organize a sit-down dinner, but we wanted to go for something less formal this year.· We offer a cafeteria and a sit-down service at very reasonable rates.
to not do something that you should do · I haven't done my taxes yet and they're due next week.· The electrician came round yesterday, but he didn't do all the jobs I asked him to do.· She was afraid that if she didn't do what her boss told her she would be fired.
to not try to help someone or prevent a bad situation, even though you know it is happening: · How could neighbors listen to her scream and do nothing?do nothing/not do anything about: · We told the police months ago, but they still haven't done anything about it.do nothing/not do anything to do something: · No one did anything to stop the purse snatcher.
formal to do nothing, especially when this is a deliberate decision: · If you have already paid the amount shown on this bill, you need take no further action.take no action to do something: · Local police took no action to protect the family from the attacks.
formal to not do something that you should do, especially when this has serious results: · The driver of the car failed to stop in time, and the boy was killed.· If you fail to provide all the information, we will be unable to process your application.
to not do something because you do not pay enough attention or forget, especially when this could have serious results: · Marie decided not to move, but she neglected to inform the rental agency.· The public are demanding to know why the government neglected to warn them of the oil shortages.
formal to not do something, either because you forget to do it or because you deliberately choose not to do it: · Mrs Hobbs told me about the meeting but she omitted to tell me where it was.· Starr's account omits to mention that it was his own actions that caused the fire.
to not do anything to stop something bad from happening, when you should do something to show that you care about the situation: · Why did people just stand by while she was attacked?· We can't afford to just sit by and watch more of our local industry shut down.
spoken to not even move or start to do something when there is an urgent situation: · Don't just stand there - help me catch the cat!· When the fire alarm went off she just sat there as if she hadn't heard a thing.
to not do anything because there is nothing to do if you have nothing to do , there is nothing interesting for you to do, and you feel bored: · I get depressed if I have nothing to do.· The kids are always complaining that they don't have anything to do.with nothing to do/without anything to do: · She was sick of sitting around at home with nothing to do.
to sit or stand somewhere for a long time, feeling bored, when you are waiting for something to happen or when you are just being lazy: · I spent the whole morning sitting around waiting for him to call.· A group of teenagers were standing around outside the station.· If you're just standing around, why don't you come help me?
British /be at loose ends American to be unable to think of anything to do: · After her husband died, Mildred found herself suddenly at loose ends.· I felt rather at a loose end at the end of the term so I decided to take a trip to London.
to decide whether someone is wrong to do something to decide whether someone is wrong to do something - use this when you think someone has no right to do this: · What right does she have to judge me?· Don't judge other people unless you want to be judged yourself.· She should do what seems right to her. It isn't for me to judge.
also judgement British to judge something or someone in a negative and often unreasonable way: · He refused to pass judgement until all the evidence was presented.pass judgment upon/on: · Society badly needs to learn not to pass judgment on people because of their background.
British to judge whether someone's behaviour is good or bad - use this especially when you think someone should not be doing this: · I don't care how annoyed she is - she's got no absolutely no right to sit in judgement.sit in judgement on/upon/over: · It seems wrong that 12 white men could sit in judgment on one black woman.
British /judgmental American too ready to judge and criticize other people: · I try not to be judgmental, but if I think someone's being stupid, I'll say so.· The parenting class is run in an open, non-judgmental manner that lets people speak freely.judgemental about: · The public is often judgmental about people's sexuality.
to behave in a lazy way informal to spend time sitting and relaxing and not doing any work: · We lazed around on the beach most of the day.· Why not finish your homework, instead of just sitting around doing nothing?· It's a perfect place to lounge around -- hot sunshine and free drinks.
to deliberately avoid your work or your responsibilities because you are lazy, in a way that makes people not have respect for you: · We don't want anyone shirking round here -- everyone is expected to earn their pay.shirk your duties/responsibilities: · Our father never shirked his responsibilities.· John doesn't want to go to war, but he won't shirk his duty.
informal to not help someone at all with work that must be done, such as cooking and cleaning, with the result that they have to do it all on their own: · Tim doesn't lift a finger when it comes to housework.not lift a finger to help: · We spent the day moving furniture, but Sara didn't lift a finger to help.
to stay in a place and not leave it · Stay where you are and don't move.· I'm coming too. I'm not staying here on my own.· Neighbors keep to themselves around here, they stay inside.stay with · He stayed with the baby until she fell asleep.stay (for) 3 hours/two days/a while etc · John only stayed at the party for a couple of hours.· Don't go so soon -- can't you stay just a little longer?stay for dinner/a drink/a game of cards etc · You're welcome to stay for lunch, you know.· Are you staying for a drink, or do you have to go?stay to dinner/tea etc · Mom always seated me next to him whenever he stayed to supper.stay to do something · Are you staying to watch the game?stay behind (=stay in a place after other people have left) · He stayed behind after class to ask the teacher a few questions.
formal to stay: · Some 2,000 students, lecturers and university workers remained inside, refusing to leave.· He was determined to remain out west until he had made his fortune.remain at/in: · The judge ruled that Borkin should remain in jail until his case is heard.· He had finished, but he remained at the microphone for a few minutes, gazing at the audience.remain with: · The children will remain with their mother.remain behind (=to stay in a place after other people have left): · The others were dismissed, but Harwood was asked to remain behind.
to stay in the same place and not try to move from there: · He won't stay put long enough for me to take his photo.· I've decided to stay put until after Christmas, but after that I want to start looking for a new apartment.
to stay in the same place and wait until a difficult or dangerous situation has ended before moving: · You sit tight while I go and get some help.
also stop in British informal to stay in your house and not go out, especially in the evening, instead of going out to enjoy yourself: · I've got to stay in and look after my sister on Friday night.· So, are you going out or stopping in tonight?
informal to stay in the same place for a short time, especially because you are waiting for someone, or expecting something to happen: · If you don't feel like sticking around here, we could find a place to get some coffee.stick around for ten minutes/a while etc: · Do you guys want to stick around for a while?
British informal to stay somewhere for a short time, especially at someone's house: · I'm not stopping, I've just popped in to pick up some books.stop for tea/a chat/a cup of coffee etc: · Why don't you stop for lunch -- there's loads of food.
to become straight or make something straight to become straight or to make something straight: · The road twisted and turned for a few miles and then straightened out again.straighten out something: · He had straightened out all the paperclips on his desk, but had done no work.straighten something out: · Gemma needed surgery to straighten her knee out.
to make something straight: · The car's in the garage having its front bumper straightened.· Gradually straighten your legs until you are standing upright.
also straighten up to make your back straight when sitting or standing: · Alan straightened in his chair.· She straightened up as Melissa approached, pulling off her gardening gloves.
to make your back straight when sitting: · He sat up in his chair when I started talking about Chris.sit up straight: · Sit up straight and put a cushion behind your lower back.
to do a test or exam · Anna will be taking her music exam in the summer.· Most young people take the SAT exams in their last year of high school. · I took my driving test when I was 18.
British do is more informal that take , and is used especially in conversation: · I'd better go home -- I've got to do an exam in the morning.· The kids are doing a test this morning.
also have got if you have an exam tomorrow, next week etc, you are going to do it then: · We have a quiz every week on what we've been reading.· I have a written exam in the morning and an interview in the afternoon.· Lucy's got her driving test next week.
British to do a written school or college exam: · I sat my final exams last year.
to wait to spend time not doing very much, while you are expecting something to happen or expecting someone to arrive: · Wait here until I get back.· Hurry up, everyone's waiting.wait for somebody: · I'll stay here and wait for Suzie.wait for something: · We spent almost an hour just waiting for the bus.wait (for) a minute/two hours/a long time etc: · Where have you been? I've been waiting since 7:00.· You'll have to wait a few minutes - I'm not ready yet.wait to do something: · Are you waiting to use the phone?wait for somebody/something to do something: · She waited for him to reply.· He waited for the applause to die down before he continued speaking.keep somebody waiting (=make someone wait, for example by arriving late): · I'm so sorry I kept you waiting.wait and see (=wait to find out what will happen): · I've done as much as I can - now all I can do is wait and see what happens.wait-and-see attitude/position/approach etc: · The airline industry has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to the report's proposals.
spoken to wait, especially in a difficult situation, hoping that something good will happen: · Captain Damas decided it was best to hold on and wait for the other ship to arrive.· We knew that if we hung on long enough, things were bound to change.
also hang about British informal informal to wait in one place without doing anything, so that you are wasting time: · Sally hung around for over an hour but no-one came.· I wish we could get on with the job. I hate all this hanging about.hang around for British: · We spent half an hour hanging about for Kerry.hang around for hours/ages etc: · We were hanging around for hours before they opened the gates.keep somebody hanging around: · We can't keep our troops hanging around forever, doing nothing.
to wait and be ready to do something if needed: · The family stood by, knowing that she might wake up any minute.stand by for: · The crew was ordered to stand by for take-off.stand by to do something: · The Foreign Minister had a helicopter standing by to whisk him to the northern city of Afula.
to wait before doing something that other people are also waiting to do, because some of them have the right to do it before you: · Everyone has to wait their turn.wait your turn to do something: · A long line of people waited their turn to shake his hand.
to wait until something has finished, especially something unpleasant or boring: sit it out: · If the plane's late, there's nothing we can do except sit it out.sit something out: · Tony forced himself to sit the play out.sit out something: · Like many people in the community, we sat out the storm at home, hoping no disasters would occur.
formal to wait for something: · The committee is awaiting a decision from head office before it takes any action.· Two men have been charged with murder and are now in prison awaiting trial.
used to describe things that you have waited for for a long time: · The next morning we received the long-awaited order to attack.· It is hoped that these measures will trigger the long-awaited upturn in the economy.
WORD SETSabstract, nounacrylic, adjectiveacrylics, nounaltarpiece, nounaquatint, nounbrush, nounbrushwork, nouncanvas, nouncartridge paper, nouncollage, nouncubism, noundiptych, noundrawing, nouneasel, nounetching, nounexecute, verbexecution, nounfauvism, nounfigure, nounfix, verbfixative, nounframe, verbfreehand, adjectivefresco, nounfull face, adjectivegallery, nounglaze, noungouache, nounhalf-length, adjectivehatching, nounhighlight, nounhue, nounicon, nounillustration, nounillustrator, nounimpressionism, nounimpressionist, nounlettering, nounlife, nounline drawing, nounlithograph, nounlithography, nounminiature, nounminiaturist, nounmural, nounoil paint, nounoil painting, nounold master, nounpaintbox, nounpaintbrush, nounpainter, nounpainterly, adjectivepainting, nounpalette, nounpalette knife, nounpanel, nounpastel, nounpastel, adjectivepencil, nounperspective, nounpictogram, nounpigment, nounpointillism, nounportrait, nounportraiture, nounposter paint, nounprimitive, nounretouch, verbrice paper, nounseascape, nounself-portrait, nounshade, nounshade, verbshading, nounshow, verbsit, verbsitting, nounsketch, nounsketch, verbstencil, nounstencil, verbstill life, nounstipple, verbsubject, nounsurrealism, nounsurrealistic, adjectivetempera, nountrace, verbtriptych, nounview, nounwall painting, nounwatercolour, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs a photograph of my mother sitting astride a horse Rose fell, landing with a bump. I was sitting comfortably in the lounge, reading a newspaper. We sat cross-legged on the floor. Anna sat her finals last summer. I spend most of my time sitting in front of a computer. The men stood motionless as Weir held his finger to his lips. I have no job and nowhere to live. Several thousand students staged sit-ins and protest marches. Jerry says he does two hundred sit-ups a day. Activists staged a protest outside the parliament.
(=without moving)· Young children find it almost impossible to sit still.
(=without talking)· Mac sat quietly in the back of the car.
· She was sitting comfortably on the sofa.
(=with your back straight)· Sit up straight at the table, Maddie.
(=suddenly sit up very straight, for example because you hear something)· Suddenly she sat bolt upright and said, ‘What was that?’
(=with your legs bent and crossed over in front of you)· She sat cross-legged on the grass.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a photograph of my mother sitting astride a horse (=work as a judge or magistrate)
· She had served on the board of governors of the BBC.
Rose fell, landing with a bump.· She sat in her favourite chair.
· Harry glanced at the kitchen clock and saw that he was late.
I was sitting comfortably in the lounge, reading a newspaper. (=be a member of an important committee)· Our organization is always in need of volunteers to serve on the committee.
We sat cross-legged on the floor.· I don't want to do a job in which I'm sitting at a desk all day.
Anna sat her finals last summer.· Officers found her lying face down on the floor.
I spend most of my time sitting in front of a computer. (=be a member of a jury)· At that time, black people were not allowed to serve on juries.
The men stood motionless as Weir held his finger to his lips. I have no job and nowhere to live.· She sat down at the piano and began to play.
· The priest rose from his kneeling position by the bed.
Several thousand students staged sit-ins and protest marches. Jerry says he does two hundred sit-ups a day. Activists staged a protest outside the parliament.· He was sitting at a corner table.
· We sat around the table and talked.
(=someone who is easy to attack)· In the open, the soldiers are sitting targets.
· She was sitting upright in bed.
(=sit or stand with your back very straight)· Murphy and I both sat bolt upright when we heard the alarm.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· All participants sit around a large table.· But in the land of my forebears, women sit around and wait for their men.· We sat around the table, searching frantically for explanations and hoping unavailingly for good news.· We would just sit around for hours and tell each other stories.· Having finished a job, they don't sit around enjoying the results - it's on to the next.· I can sit around with a word processor and hate everything.· They all sat around in a circle agreeing what a swine Henry was.· Everybody sat around talking with Camille.
· Jay sat back in her chair.· Gordy commanded her to sit back down then bolted out the door.· She heard him returning just as she sat back to admire her handiwork.· The thick pungent smoke from the spliff filled the car in no time as Firebug took long leisurely tokes and sat back.· City were content to sit back on their lead, and Newcastle lacked the pace or imagination to break them down.· Fredrickson talked himself out and finally flushed and apologized like always and sat back down.· He forced himself to sit back in his chair, to swallow more beer.· I sat back in the chair, petting a new friend.
· By the time Sir Humphrey sat down few people in that court could have felt that Simmons had arrested the wrong man.· She sipped the bubbly liquid and handed the glass back to Adrienne who sat down close beside her.· Inder Lal and I sat down under a tree while the watchman went off to find the keys.· You can see them on the hardwood ridges, but only if you sit down and wait patiently.· Slinging his mac over the back of a pew he sat down and rested his feet on the one in front.· Having completed these arrangements, I sat down, naked, on the box in the tub and typed my notes.· Two large boulders were rolled on to the road and they sat down to wait, guns at the ready.· She barely gained the dry bank of the stream before she sat down and leaned against a mulberry tree.
· But I can't sit here all night.· I could sit here in the cool shadows of the city for ever.· They used to sit here together for hours, smoking their pipes and chatting.· We sit here so that we won t miss seeing anyone who comes in, anyone who goes out.· I could sit here for hours, just looking.· John Chico sat here, Alice Puerala sat here.· She wanted to sit here all day.· John Chico sat here, Alice Puerala sat here.
· Hugh sat in at the window.· Marge felt herself sinking into the chair she sat in.· Invite the most junior person in your department to sit in on your executive meeting.· The body sits in a chair, a pistol nearby.· No, honestly, I often sit in alone wearing a bottle and a half of Christmas cologne.· I sat in the sun for a few minutes, naked.· In a unique demonstration they left their schools to sit in on a county council meeting discussing the cuts.Tim Hurst reports.· Meir Ahronson sat in an old armchair, a piece of furniture that dated back to the times of King Sobieski.
· As a kid I'd just sit and watch my parents work and you'd learn so much.· Every time it rang, I just sat there.· You get the child who just sits and can't think what to do.· Now Craig Bixby was trying to catch his eye, but Sonny just sat there.· I just sat on the chair, staring at him.· Three red stars sit just off the right side of my head.· I du n no how long I sit there, I just sit there and sort of watch the cars go by.· You just sit back and look around.
· I wonder if Emily Post has a chapter on what to wear and whom to sit next to at a hanging.· No one to sit next to on the plane.· George came and sat next to him.· She sat next to him at dinner that night and engaged him in a lively discussion of rope walking.· Steve had always been particularly friendly to me, and I had often sat next to him.· Ahtonia sat next to her, holding her hand.· While flying home I sat next to a senior executive with a large international organization.· Will he sit next to you?
· He was as cold as the stone she sat on, she thought forlornly.· He sat on his stool, his hands in his aproned lap, his big fleshy head swaying to the music.· Lena sat on for a quarter of an hour, exactly timed by her watch, before leaving herself.· Benjy sat on his sagging back steps with six-year-old Louis Klubock, who lived next door.· She went out, cut more branches, threw the dying ones away, and sat on through the afternoon, thinking.· We sat on and around the bunker while Nate and Connors told the story.· Or take campaign-finance reform, which both parties cynically agreed to sit on until 1996 was safely over.· The shack sat on about 1-1 / 4 rugged acres he bought jointly with his brother for $ 2, 100.
· If it is injured or sick it may sit quietly in an unusually visible position during daylight hours.· They sit quietly on the locker-room benches, their faces solemn, their eyes averted.· Then we asked the students to sit quietly with their eyes closed and think about the costs.· I sat quietly and listened to their exchange.· But one evening - a full hour before her usual meal - I sat quietly in the armchair, reading.· So they could sit quietly adding block after block to various buildings they were constructing.· There was only one exception, a very elderly male who sat quietly and hardly moved.· She sat quietly on the steel chair, looking sad.
· In fact, Mr Murdoch could not sit still.· She sat still, placid and waiting, until he was clear up the steps.· His two visitors had sat still, waiting patiently until the coughing subsided.· The enemy, aware of the strength of his position, simply sat still and waited for us.· I sat still, sipping slowly and thinking hard.· I had the sense that it was difficult for him to sit still.· Maxim did nothing except sit still and watch as Agnes had told him to.
· She sat there, mouth open.· Let it sit there a while.· My three daughters sat there waiting for me.· She sat there till she died.· Roland had once asked her if he could help in the garden, in exchange for the right to sit there sometimes.· She just sat there, silently.· As I sat there, the china spewed forth from the open door and cascaded down the ready-made ramp into my lap.· So it just sits there with the layer of dust on its monitor getting thicker all the time.
· I sat up at the counter and ordered Scotch on the rocks.· And although the bebop classics give her the most vocal trouble, she nevertheless makes you sit up and take notice.· During the study the subject was allowed to sit up, or walk around briefly if they wished every 60 minutes.· After a bit they sat up and watched the welcome breeze work like an animal through the silver-green barley.· Yet when another child is attacked, they sit up and take notice.· Increase the work-load by holding a weight against your chest as you sit up.· Or ... Maggie sat up in bed.· Amy sat up and put her mug down on the table and swung her feet to the floor.
NOUN· I sat on the bed for a few moments, recovering.· She nodded and sat on the bed a moment, staring at him.· She had sat up in bed and was shouting like a mad-woman.· And at that moment Ed sat up in the bed, looking straight ahead, a tear rolling down his cheek.· Philippa sat cross-legged beside the bed, as if meditating on the carpet.· They sat on the bed cross-legged and looked straight at each other.· Then she sat on the bed next to Sarah.· I sat on the bed and thought.
· Those who sit on the Treasury Bench make claims about average net income increases.· Grunt Six and the other captain sat on the bench seat facing forward.· The captain invited us brusquely to sit on a bench before the table and hurried out of a side door.· We crossed Main Street and went into a little park, sat on a wooden bench under a huge scraggly tree.· I sat down on the bench and leaned back against the wall.· I just sat on the park bench and watched him dragging that potbelly around.· At the police station Rita sat on a wooden bench and answered questions.· They made an appointment and while walking toward the building, stopped to sit on a bench.
· He longed to know which chair she sat in, what space she occupied.· Marge felt herself sinking into the chair she sat in.· When I fall asleep in my chair he always sits on my lap.· He went to his chair and sat down.· After she seated herself at our table, other writers came by and, pulling chairs over, sat down.· The red chair where I sit has a long seat, comfortable for a tall person.· When chairs sit in the middle of a space, the back might be the first part you see.
· The long black beads at her waist rattled against the desk as she sat in the chair next to his.· Emily moved to the desk and sat down, spreading the pages of figures out before her.· He went behind the desk and sat down.· At a desk before the window sat a pale man in a dark suit.· He returned to his desk and sat down.· On the other side of each desk, the applicant sits in a large, heavily padded, executive-type swivel chair.
· She sat on the edge of her bed for a few minutes, digging dirt from under her nails.· De Nesle sat down on the edge of the desk and picked up the coffee cup.· I rested for a few minutes, then sat on the edge of the bed and looked around.· The small village, no more than 20 wooden and canvas shacks, sat on the edge of a coastal inlet.· Young Paul Collins sat on the edge of a chair in my office in Ada, Michigan.· He went over and sat on the edge of the bed.
· To sit by fires and watch the moon rise.· Pregnant every year including the year she sat by the fire telling him she was going to run.· As he sat by the fire softening potatoes between his gums, he felt pleased with himself.· We retire into the cabin to eat by candlelight, then come back out to sit around the fire and talk.· He told us to sit by the fire.· When l joined him there, we sat out by the fire and I pestered him for the story.· Sir George drew the curtains, and motioned Roland and Maud to sit down by the fire, in the velvet chairs.· He sat in front of the fire and found his place.
· Robyn sat on the floor by the fire, with her plate on her lap, and tucked in.· Then he sat down on the floor beside her and smoked his pipe.· They did not sit on the floor.· He turned off the cold water, picked up the razor blade and sat on the floor next to the tub.· She continued to sit limply on the floor.· He sat cross-legged on the floor scanning titles for hours.· The student sits on the floor and opens his legs in front of him, pushing his body weight forward as far as it will go.· His boss sat on the forty-first floor and was still basking in the reflected glory of his minion.
· Now he sat at the kitchen table with the worm-cake before him and the taste of nausea already on his tongue.· All week-end long, it sat on the kitchen table staring at him like a cold watery eye.· He sits in the kitchen all that time.· Then Beatrice and Mike Tonelli and I sit at the kitchen table.· He sat down at the kitchen table and picked up the hacksaw.· Afterward I sat in the kitchen with her over a cup of coffee.· She spooned four heaped spoonfuls of sugar into it and some condensed milk and sat at the kitchen table.· Norma sat silently in the kitchen of their home, drinking coffee and trying to calm her nerves.
· It opened straight on to her living room, and I sat down before she could change her mind.· In the living room, I sit, feet up, huddled in a rocking chair.· When she went into the rest room she sat down for a minute while waiting for Peggy to come out of the lavatory.· Then, staggering under the weight, she carried her suitcases into the waiting room and sat down beside Ollie.· In the next room Dinah sits at her window praying.
· Compare the statement that he sat in a seat iii the circle.· Grunt Six and the other captain sat on the bench seat facing forward.· The chief innovation however, were the 32 passengers who sat along wooden seats at each side.· I sat in the right seat with my hands and feet near the controls, waiting, tense, scared.· She sat back in the seat as she racked her brain before coming to just one conclusion: Harry Martin.· Sarah sat up in her seat.· Juliet sat rigidly in her seat.· Williams just sat in his seat behind him, glaring.
· Personal Bankers sit on your side of the counter so they are easy to talk to.· He looked at both of them as they sat side to side across from him, fingers interlocked.· The person who sat at the side of the Secretary of State was the regional officer from Leeds.· Acutes: sit on your side of the day room and wait for cards and Monopoly games to be brought out.· Two grey-haired ladies sat either side of a fire eating green soup from wide dishes on their knees.· Master Yehudi sat by my side throughout this ordeal.· Victor sat on her other side.· Chromes: sit on your side and puzzles from the Red Cross box.
· So they sat in tense silence together, reading.· After Olivia Davenport left, he sat in silence, staring at the door.· Enigmatically, Boon sits in silence for a while.· They sat in silence for a while.· They sat in silence, eating, drinking, two amiable and contented men.· We sat suddenly swamped by silence, intense and enveloping.· We sat in silence as the trap entered the estate grounds.
· The waitress pushed two tables together and we sat down and studied the menus.· Sometimes children must wait for an empty chair at the milk table before they can sit down.· They never put their elbows on the table, and they sat up straight instead of slouching.· The table he sat at was circular and made of pine or what Hilbert and Adam's father had called deal.· They groped their way to a plastic table and sat facing the swaying shadows at the bar.· Ben went slowly to the big table and sat down.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► sit somebody down► sit somebody up► Sit!PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be (sitting) in the catbird seat► be sitting on a goldmine► ride/sit side-saddle
1in 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 buttockssit on/in/by etc- Just sit tight - I'll be there in ten minutes.
- You sit tight while I go and get some help.
- You might want to sit tight a few months and see what happens to the stock market.
- But Solomon sat tight in his rain barrel, and after the cossacks had left empty-handed, he made his escape.
- He might just sit tight inside the castle.
- Or the rabbits sit tight underground as they become cornered by the ferrets.
- She is loath to encourage folks to sit tight.
- Then city officials sat tight and hoped it would pay off.
- Through the summer runup in technology stock prices, executives at the on-line service provider sat tight.
- When an intruder approaches, the parents fly off and the chicks sit tight nomatterhow close it comes.
- You could head back to the Cities, just sit tight.
- At that stage in the campaign, she was sitting pretty in the polls.
- Certain Christians have also given the impression that they sit in judgment over others.
- Harrison presented himself and H-1 to the eight commissioners who sat in judgment of his work.
- Certainly, such views as these do not sit comfortably with managerialism and are equally at odds with restricted professionality.
- He had never before been accused of stealing and it did not sit well with him.
- One might think a hockey fan would not sit easily at a sewing machine piecing together patches for a quilt.
- The adornment, thought Eloise smugly, would not sit well amidst so much blubber.
- The closures, which began late last month, does not sit well with many of the regulars.
- The populist vision of a peasant landholding democracy does not sit easily with alternative visions of women's rights.
- The volatility and their non-guaranteed status do not sit comfortably with the official line linking the two benefits.
- This conviction did not sit well either with regimental soldiering or with Whitehall.
- You can't sit on the fence any longer - what's it going to be?
- He is the obvious choice for those who wish to sit on the fence.
- If the encyclopaedia has a weakness it is that it sits on the fence on controversial issues.
- Most delegates sat on their hands while a few radicals took control of the discussion.
- So we sat on our hands about Sally, because we thought the stakes were higher than the National Enquirer.
- First we should sit down and work out the financing.
- But I found I could just sit down and play by ear.
- He sat down and pushed at the lid with one filthy paw.
- Something that makes you want to sit down and take notice.
- The harvesters stopped work, sat down and started to eat and drink.
- The Springboks sat down and waited.
- Then she sat down and started to eat.
- Then the Kuchas sat down and ate the fish in his honor.
- We can all sit down and analyze.
- After a bit they sat up and watched the welcome breeze work like an animal through the silver-green barley.
- Carol was dying, and he cried out in his sleep and sat up trembling with cold sweats in the heat.
- He sat up and stared at the sky in wonder.
- I sat up, wondering what the hell!
- I was still groggy, but I could sit up.
- Léonie sat up straight, tucked her feet to one side, put her hands round her knees.
- They sat up side by side in the bed, naked, listening, but Valerie no longer felt safe.
- Craig sighed and leaned back in his chair.
- But no one can sit back in investment clubs and just listen.
- He must generate all his own internal discipline against the possible inclination to lie back and enjoy his good fortune.
- He sat back on his heels, sorrowfully examining the ruined glove.
- He walked without hesitation to the very front row, sat down and lay back, gazing up at the screen.
- She heard him returning just as she sat back to admire her handiwork.
- Then she lay back on her pillow and they looked at each other as if it was for the first time.
- We started to sit back because we were up on the No. 1 team in the nation.
- Whatever some think, we don't sit back.
- We found her sitting bolt upright in bed with all the lights on.
- He sat bolt upright and kept his eyes on the table in front of him.
- Hotspur sat bolt upright in the saddle, his eyes narrowed on the hurtling horsemen, and never moved a hand.
- I walked across her line of vision and she sat bolt upright in annoyance.
- She sat bolt upright in the back seat during the hour long journey, some of which was on a motorway.
- She sat bolt upright, aches and pains quite forgotten.
- She sat bolt upright; her features were strong, her manna forthright, even aggressive.
- Suddenly I sit bolt upright, feeling a familiar stab of panic that can mean only one thing: the videos!
- Suddenly, Urquhart stood bolt upright, not twenty yards in front of the deer which froze in confusion.
- He is the obvious choice for those who wish to sit on the fence.
- If the encyclopaedia has a weakness it is that it sits on the fence on controversial issues.
- But there is no room for resting on our laurels.
- But this generous accolade does not mean that we are resting on our laurels.
- Little time was granted to Lee and his men for resting on their laurels.
- Motorola has long been a leader in that as well, and it has never stopped to rest on its laurels.
- That is the only time when you can rest on your laurels.
- The religious authorities, who were very active during the nationalist struggle, rested on their laurels after independence.
- This evolution of Diamond Rio signals that the group is not ready to rest on its laurels -- at least not voluntarily.
- You can never rest on your laurels.
- Nearly 1,000 fans staged a sit-down protest calling for Branfoot's head, despite the victory sealed by Richard Hall's header.
- He was lying sprawled across the pillow leaning on his elbow, his head propped to one side, reading the letter.
- His rear gunner lay sprawled dead in the back.
- The next thing she knew, she was lying sprawled across the pavement.
- The observer lay sprawled across his gun, his blond hair streaming romantically in the wind.
- We may see a road accident but we shall never be sprawled out on the tarmacadam like that.
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.sit at a desk/table etc (=sit facing it) Jean sat at the table writing a letter.sit doing something They sat sipping their drinks. We used to sit and listen to her for hours. 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. c) (also sit somebody down) [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone sit, or help them to sitsit somebody on/in etc something I gently led her to the chair and sat her on it.2objects/buildings etc [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to be in a particular position or conditionsit 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. My climbing boots were sitting unused in a cupboard. The house has sat empty for two years.3do nothing [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] 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. Well, I can’t sit here chatting all day. Are you just going to sit there complaining?4committee/parliament etc [intransitive] to be a member of a committee, parliament, or other official groupsit in/on They both sat on the management committee. He was the first journalist to sit in parliament.5meeting [intransitive] 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.6animal/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. b) Sit! used to tell a dog to sit with the tail end of its body resting on the ground or floor c)if a bird sits on its eggs, it covers them with its body to make the eggs hatch7look after [intransitive + for] to look after a baby or child while its parents are out SYN babysit8sit tight spoken a)to stay where you are and not move: 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.9be sitting pretty to be in a very good or favourable position: We’ve paid off the mortgage, so we’re sitting pretty now.10sit in judgment (on/over somebody) 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 judgment on somebody you hardly know?11not sit well/easily/comfortably (with somebody) 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.12sit on the fence 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.13sit on your hands to delay taking action when you should do something: Workers are losing their jobs while the government sits on its hands and does nothing.14exams [intransitive, transitive] British English to take an examination: Tracy’s sitting her GCSEs this year.sit for They were preparing children to sit for the entry examination.15picture/photo [intransitive] to sit somewhere so that you can be painted or photographedsit for She sat for (=was painted by) Holman Hunt and Millais.COLLOCATIONSadverbssit still (=without moving)· Young children find it almost impossible to sit still.sit quietly (=without talking)· Mac sat quietly in the back of the car.be sitting comfortably· She was sitting comfortably on the sofa.sit up straight/sit upright (=with your back straight)· Sit up straight at the table, Maddie.sit bolt upright (=suddenly sit up very straight, for example because you hear something)· Suddenly she sat bolt upright and said, ‘What was that?’sit cross-legged (=with your legs bent and crossed over in front of you)· She sat cross-legged on the grass.THESAURUSsit to be resting your weight on your bottom somewhere, or to move into this position: · He was sitting in front of the fire.· She sat on the bed and kicked off her shoes.· Who is the man sitting next to Karen?sit down to sit on a chair, bed, floor etc after you have been standing: · I sat down on the sofa.· Come in and sit down.be seated formal to be sitting in a particular chair or place: · John was seated on my left.· There was a man seated behind the desk.take a seat to sit – used especially when asking someone to sit down: · Please take a seat – she will be with you in a minute.· Would the audience please take their seats – the show will begin in five minutes.sink into something to sit in a comfortable chair and let yourself fall back into it: · We switched on the TV and sank into our armchairs.lounge to sit in a very comfortable relaxed way: · They lounged around all day by the pool.perch to sit on the edge of something: · He perched on the arm of the sofa.· My sister was perched (=was sitting) on a high stool.be slumped to be sitting while leaning against something, especially because you are injured, drunk, or asleep: · They found him slumped against the steering wheel.squat to sit with your knees bent under you, your bottom just off the ground, balancing on your feet: · A little boy was squatting at the edge of the pool.sit around (also sit about British English) phrasal verb to spend a lot of time sitting and doing nothing very useful: We sat around for a bit, chatting.sit back phrasal verb1to get into a comfortable position, for example in a chair, and relax: Sit back and relax – I’ll open a bottle of wine.2to relax and make no effort to get involved in something or influence what happens: Don’t just sit back and wait for new business to come to you.sit by phrasal verb to allow something wrong or illegal to happen without doing anything about it: I’m not going to sit by and watch a man go to prison for something I’ve done.sit down phrasal verb1to 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.sit yourself down Sit yourself down and have a drink.2sit somebody down to make someone sit down or help them to sit downsit down in/on I helped her into the room and sat her down in an armchair.3sit down and do something 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 in phrasal verb to be present at a meeting but not take an active part in itsit in on Would you like to sit in on some of my interviews?sit in for somebody phrasal verb to do a job, go to a meeting etc instead of the person who usually does it: This is Alan James sitting in for Suzy Williams on the mid-morning show.sit on something phrasal verb informal to delay dealing with something: I sent my application about six weeks ago and they’ve just been sitting on it.sit something ↔ out phrasal verb1to stay where you are and do nothing until something finishes, especially something boring or unpleasant: She had two weeks to sit it out while she waited to hear if she had got the job. She was prepared to sit out the years of Jack’s jail sentence.2to not take part in something, especially a game or dance, when you usually take part: Johnson sat out the game with a shoulder injury.sit through something phrasal verb to attend a meeting, performance etc, and stay until the end, even if it is very long and boring: I wasn’t the least bit interested in all the speeches I had to sit through.sit up phrasal verb1to 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.2 sit somebody up to help someone to sit after they have been lying downsit up in/on etc I’ll sit you up on the pillows and you’ll be nice and comfortable.3to sit in a chair with your back straight: Just sit up straight and stop slouching.4to stay up very late: Sometimes we just sit up and watch videos all night.5sit up (and take notice) 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.