sit 
/ˈsit/ verb
sits; sat /ˈsit/ verb /ˈsæt/; sit·ting 1 a [no obj] : to be in a position in which your bottom is resting on a chair, the ground, etc., especially with your back upright
▪ He was sitting in a chair next to the window. ▪ She sat across from me during dinner. ▪ The children sat cross-legged on the floor playing a game. ▪ Are you going to sit there and watch TV all day? ▪ Don't just sit there—do/say something! ▪ You can't expect young children to sit still [=sit without moving around] for that long.
b [no obj] : to begin to sit : to put yourself in a sitting position
▪ He went over and sat [=sat down] in a chair next to the window. ▪ She walked around the table and sat across from me.
c always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to be seated : to put (someone) in a sitting position
▪ She sat the toddler in the chair. 2 [no obj] a of an animal : to rest with the tail end of the body on the floor and the front legs straight
▪ The cat likes to sit by the window. ▪ He taught the dog to sit (on command). ▪ Sit! Good dog!
b of a bird : to rest on the top or the edge of something
▪ The bird sat on the ledge. 3 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to be or stay in a particular place, position, or condition
▪ The limousine is sitting outside. ▪ A vase sat on the table. ▪ The sled sits unused in the garage during the summer. 4 [no obj] : to be a member of an official group that has meetings
▪ She sits on the board of directors. 5 [no obj] : to meet in order to carry on official business : to hold a session
▪ The court is now sitting. ▪ Parliament will sit for four months. 6 [no obj] a : to take care of a child while the child's parents are away : babysit
▪ She sits for the neighbors' kids. = She sits for the neighbors.
b : to take care of something while the owner is away — usually used in combination ▪ Can you dog-sit [=take care of my dog] for me this weekend? — see also house-sit 7 [+ obj] US : to have enough seats for (a certain number of people)
▪ The car sits [=seats] five (people). 8 [no obj] : to pose for a portrait, photograph, etc.
▪ She agreed to sit for the painting/painter. 9 Brit : to take (an examination) [+ obj] ▪ Students will sit the exam next week. [no obj] ▪ The course prepares students to sit for the exam.
▪ He was sitting in a chair next to the window. ▪ She sat across from me during dinner. ▪ The children sat cross-legged on the floor playing a game. ▪ Are you going to sit there and watch TV all day? ▪ Don't just sit there—do/say something! ▪ You can't expect young children to sit still [=sit without moving around] for that long.
b [no obj] : to begin to sit : to put yourself in a sitting position
▪ He went over and sat [=sat down] in a chair next to the window. ▪ She walked around the table and sat across from me.
c always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] : to cause (someone) to be seated : to put (someone) in a sitting position
▪ She sat the toddler in the chair.
▪ The cat likes to sit by the window. ▪ He taught the dog to sit (on command). ▪ Sit! Good dog!
b of a bird : to rest on the top or the edge of something
▪ The bird sat on the ledge.
▪ The limousine is sitting outside. ▪ A vase sat on the table. ▪ The sled sits unused in the garage during the summer.
▪ She sits on the board of directors.
▪ The court is now sitting. ▪ Parliament will sit for four months.
▪ She sits for the neighbors' kids. = She sits for the neighbors.
b : to take care of something while the owner is away — usually used in combination ▪ Can you dog-sit [=take care of my dog] for me this weekend? — see also house-sit
▪ The car sits [=seats] five (people).
▪ She agreed to sit for the painting/painter.
sit around also chiefly Brit sit about
[phrasal verb] : to spend time doing nothing useful
▪ He sits around and does nothing while I do all the work. ▪ She just sits around watching television all day.
▪ He sits around and does nothing while I do all the work. ▪ She just sits around watching television all day.
sit back [phrasal verb] 1 : to get into a comfortable and relaxed position in a chair, seat, etc.
▪ Sit back and enjoy the ride. 2 : to make no effort to do something
▪ He sat back and watched us do all the work. ▪ How can you just sit back and let him insult you like that?
▪ Sit back and enjoy the ride.
▪ He sat back and watched us do all the work. ▪ How can you just sit back and let him insult you like that?
sit by [phrasal verb]
: to make no effort to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening
▪ We cannot just sit by and watch him ruin his life. ▪ I won't sit idly by while he ruins his life!
▪ We cannot just sit by and watch him ruin his life. ▪ I won't sit idly by while he ruins his life!
sit down [phrasal verb] 1 : to begin to sit : to put yourself into a sitting position
▪ She called just as we were sitting down to eat. ▪ Come on in and sit down. [=have a seat] ▪ Please sit down and be quiet. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ We need to sit down and figure this problem out. [=we need to give our attention to figuring this problem out] 2 be sitting down : to be in a sitting position
▪ She made sure everyone was sitting down before she began. ▪ I have some shocking news. Are you sitting down? 3 sit (someone) down : to cause (someone) to be seated : to put or get (someone) in a sitting position
▪ He sat the child down. ▪ You need to sit him down and have a talk with him. ▪ She sat herself down on the couch.
▪ She called just as we were sitting down to eat. ▪ Come on in and sit down. [=have a seat] ▪ Please sit down and be quiet. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ We need to sit down and figure this problem out. [=we need to give our attention to figuring this problem out]
▪ She made sure everyone was sitting down before she began. ▪ I have some shocking news. Are you sitting down?
▪ He sat the child down. ▪ You need to sit him down and have a talk with him. ▪ She sat herself down on the couch.
sit in [phrasal verb] 1 : to take the place of someone who is not present
▪ The President could not attend the meeting, so the Vice President is sitting in. = The Vice President is sitting in for the President. 2 sit in on (something) : to attend (something, such as a class or meeting) without officially participating
▪ She's been asked to sit in on the meetings. ▪ I would like to sit in on one of your classes.
▪ The President could not attend the meeting, so the Vice President is sitting in. = The Vice President is sitting in for the President.
▪ She's been asked to sit in on the meetings. ▪ I would like to sit in on one of your classes.
sit on [phrasal verb]
sit on (something) informal : to delay dealing with or talking about (something)
▪ Let's sit on the problem for a while and see if anything changes. ▪ They have been sitting on my insurance claim for months! ▪ Let's just sit on this news for the time being.
▪ Let's sit on the problem for a while and see if anything changes. ▪ They have been sitting on my insurance claim for months! ▪ Let's just sit on this news for the time being.
sit on your hands
: to make no effort to deal with or respond to something
▪ She accused the administration of sitting on its hands while industries violated the law.
▪ She accused the administration of sitting on its hands while industries violated the law.
sit on your laurels — see laurel
sit out [phrasal verb]
sit out (something) or sit (something) out 1 : to stay in a place and wait for (something) to end
▪ Though the movie was very boring, he sat it out to see how it ended. 2 : to not take part in (something)
▪ She sat out several dances/practices. ▪ You can start the game without me. I'm going to sit this one out.
▪ Though the movie was very boring, he sat it out to see how it ended.
▪ She sat out several dances/practices. ▪ You can start the game without me. I'm going to sit this one out.
sit pretty
informal : to be in a very good or favorable situation
▪ Our team sits pretty at the top of the rankings. — usually used as be sitting pretty ▪ He bought stock in the company early on, and now he is sitting pretty.
▪ Our team sits pretty at the top of the rankings. — usually used as be sitting pretty ▪ He bought stock in the company early on, and now he is sitting pretty.
sit through [phrasal verb]
sit through (something) : to go to (something) and stay until the end
▪ We had to sit through another boring meeting. ▪ I can't believe the kids sat through the whole movie.
▪ We had to sit through another boring meeting. ▪ I can't believe the kids sat through the whole movie.
sit tight 1 : to not move or change your position : to stay where you are
▪ Sit tight, I'll go get help. 2 : to not change your situation : to stay in the same situation
▪ This isn't a good time to sell a house. Let's just sit tight and see if the market improves.
▪ Sit tight, I'll go get help.
▪ This isn't a good time to sell a house. Let's just sit tight and see if the market improves.
sit up [phrasal verb] 1 : to stay awake until late at night
▪ They sat up talking until almost dawn. 2 : to sit with your back very straight
▪ Quit slouching and sit up (straight). 3 sit up or sit (someone) up : to move or help (someone) to move into a sitting position
▪ He sat up in bed. ▪ She sat the child up.
▪ They sat up talking until almost dawn.
▪ Quit slouching and sit up (straight).
▪ He sat up in bed. ▪ She sat the child up.
sit up and take notice
: to suddenly pay attention to (someone or something)
▪ The news made them sit up and take notice.
▪ The news made them sit up and take notice.
sit well/comfortably (etc.)
◊If something does not sit well/comfortably (etc.) with you, you do not like it.
▪ The decision didn't sit well with him. ▪ That attitude doesn't sit comfortably with me.
▪ The decision didn't sit well with him. ▪ That attitude doesn't sit comfortably with me.
