Meaning of sit In English

• 0 to (cause someone to) be in a position in which the lower part of the body is resting on a seat or other type of support, with the upper part of the body vertical:

  • to sit at a table/desk

  • to sit in an armchair

  • to sit on a chair/a horse/the ground

  • He came and sat (down) next to me.

  • informal Sit yourself down and have a nice cool drink.

  • The child's father sat her (down) on a chair.

  • Monet's wife sat for him many times.

  • We're trying to train our dog to sit.

• 1 to stay in one place for a long time and not be used:

  • The encyclopedia sits on my shelf at home, gathering dust.

  • The town sits at/in the bottom of a valley.

  • That coat sits very well on you.

• 2 to hold an official meeting of a committee, court, etc.:

  • The court will sit tomorrow morning.

  • The committee sat to hear the arguments for and against the plan.

• 3 to be a member of an official group:

  • I'm going to be sitting on the committee for one more year.

  • US All of the federal judges currently sitting (= in office) in Maryland hail from Baltimore.

• 4 to take an exam:

  • After I've sat my exams, I'm going on holiday.

  • Australian English I sat for my exams today.

• 5 to babysit:

  • I'm sitting my sister's kids this Saturday.

• 6 to be in a position with your buttocks on a surface that supports your body, or to cause someone to be in this position:

  • [ I ] Andrea was sitting on the couch, watching TV.

  • [ T ] Dad sat her on a chair and told her not to move.

  • Sit still (= sit without moving) while I comb your hair!

• 7 to be or stay in a position or place:

  • That book is still sitting on my shelf unread.

  • The college sits on top of a hill.

• 8 (of a legislature or court) to have an official meeting or series of meetings:

  • The Supreme Court sits from October to June.

• 9 short form ofbaby-sit