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to sit

to sit

1.0
To rest with your weight on your bottom on a seat
  • verb
  • /sɪt/
translation icon : sentarse
  • "I'll just sit here and warm my feet by the fire."
  • sit in a chair
  • sit on the floor
  • sit on a bench

not being able to sit quietly in A room.

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Examples

  • These people in LA had to sit in their cars for an hour.

  • - Can you sit down?

  • This way we can sit and look at stuff.

  • Anyway, sit and think, sit and feel, be quiet.

  • You could just sit and be quiet.

  • Shall we sit down, then?

  • You could sit out there all night.

  • Okay, um... let's find somewhere for you to sit for a bit, yeah?

  • Take your time when eating meals, ensuring you sit down to eat and chew your food well.

    Academic text (2012)
  • After a long day at work, I love to sit in my favorite chair and relax.

Synonyms

to sit down
vsto sit
1.0

Move from standing into a chair or onto the ground

is about resting with body supported rather than the movement
to have a seat
vsto sit
209 1.0

Please sit down

is the general act of resting, not a polite offer
to take a load off
vsto sit
  • Informal
13 5.5

To sit down and rest after standing or working

is ordinary supported rest without the post-activity emphasis
to sit one's ass down
vsto sit
  • Offensive
11 9.9

To sit down, often said strongly to tell someone to calm down

is a neutral act of resting, not an aggressive order
to take a pew
vsto sit
  • Archaic
1 9.8

To sit down, often on a church seat but also anywhere

is a neutral description, not regionally informal or church-specific

Antonyms

1.0

To be or put something in an upright position

1.0

To rest flat on a surface

Idioms

12 8.1

Not do anything when action is needed

2 9.9

To sit and do nothing instead of working

1 7.4

To do nothing when someone should act

A humorous saying that Latin words sound more important

Phrasal Verbs

1.0

Move from standing into a chair or onto the ground

to sit around
  • Informal
350 1.1

To spend time sitting and doing very little without a clear purpose

190 1.0

Help someone into a seat by showing or guiding them

126 1.0

To move from lying down to an upright position

to sit back
  • Informal
103 3.5

To do nothing when you should help

to sit back
  • Informal
87 2.7

To lean back and relax while you watch

to sit tight
  • Informal
80 3.7

To wait patiently and not act

66 1.0

Stay seated without moving

47 1.8

To stay awake late and not go to bed

Stay until the end of something boring or unpleasant

34 4.2

Delay making a decision about something while thinking about it

27 3.2

To go to a class or meeting to watch and learn without taking part

24 4.2

To take someone's place for a short time and do their job

23 3.9

Attend a meeting or class as a visitor, not a regular participant

16 3.0

Relax and feel happy about something without worrying

16 4.4

To feel wrong or uncomfortable about something

14 5.1

To stay in a place as a protest to demand change

12 5.6

Do nothing while something bad or important happens

11 3.3

Not take part in an activity, often because someone is hurt or chooses not to

11 9.9

To sit down, often said strongly to tell someone to calm down

Join a group for a short time to take part without being a regular member

2 3.9

Stay in a place or situation until something boring ends

to fence-sit
  • Informal
8.1

Stay neutral and not choose a side in a disagreement

Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing

To ride very close behind another cyclist to save energy

7.1

To keep your ideas without sharing or using them

Compounds

21 3.6

A formal meal or meeting where people sit together to talk

16 4.9

A protest where people sit in a place and refuse to leave

6 2.3

An exercise where you lie on your back and lift your upper body to strengthen stomach muscles

Workers stay at their workplace and refuse to work until demands are met

sit-down
  • Archaic
2 6.4

Workers who stay in their workplace and refuse to leave until the employer meets their demands

Money kept to pay for a planned new project or a large cost

How Relaxed

to sprawl
32 4.1
to lounge
12 2.7
to sit
1.0
perch
32 4.1

Surface Forms

sit infinitive
sitting present participle
sits third person singular
sat past
sat past participle

Etymology

Sit comes from an old English word sittan, which meant 'to sit' or 'take a seat'. Think of the related word seat — to sit is simply to take a 'seat' and rest.