sit

verb

UK /sɪt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	sit
he/she/it	sits
present participle	sitting
past tense	sat
past participle	sat

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?
Synonyms and related words
To sit or lie down
bed down
collapse
cross your legs
1. 1a
  
  sit
  or
  sit down
  intransitive to lower your body into a sitting position
  He sat right on the cake.
  Synonyms and related words
  To sit or lie down
  bed down
  collapse
  cross your legs
2. 1b
  transitive to put someone into a sitting position
  Joanna sat the child on her lap and read him a story.
  Synonyms and related words
  To sit or lie down
  bed down
  collapse
  cross your legs
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.
Synonyms and related words
To take part, or to become involved
join in
participate
involve
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.
Synonyms and related words
To be in a particular position or place
occupy
set
exist
4
intransitive to be a member of a committee or other official group
She sits on the boards of several large companies.
Synonyms and related words
To take part, or to become involved
join in
participate
involve
1. 4a
  when a parliament, a court of law, a jury or a committee sits, it has an official meeting
  Scotland’s parliament sits in Holyrood, Edinburgh.
  The jury had to sit on a lengthy trial.
  Synonyms and related words
  To meet together as a group
  meet
  gather
  get together
5
transitive educationBritishto take an examination
I’m sitting my French exam tomorrow.
Synonyms and related words
To sit, pass or fail an examination or test
bomb
dip out
fail
6
intransitive to be a model for a painter or a photographer
sit for:
She earns money sitting for artists.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to the work of an artist
aesthetic
cherub
commission
7
intransitive informalto babysit
sit for:
I’m sitting for the Richardsons tomorrow night.
Synonyms and related words
Adoption and caring for other people’s children
adopt
adopted
adopter
8
to sit on your hands
to not take action
Most traders are sitting on their hands awaiting this afternoon’s economic growth data.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 05/10/2016
Open Dictionary - October2016

phrases

not sit well/right with someone

sit at the feet of someone

sit in judgment

sit tight

sit up and take notice

sitting pretty

phrasal verbs

sit around

sit back

sit by

sit down

sit in

sit in for

sit in on

sit on

sit out

sit through

sit up

sit ​‌‌‌

sit

sit down

to sit on your hands

sit ​‌‌‌

sit

sit down

to sit on your hands

sit

sit