sit
sit
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "sit" is /sɪt/.
/sɪt/
Word Form Variations
Base form/Infinitive: sit
Third-person singular present: sits
Present participle: sitting
Past simple: sat
Past participle: sat
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To rest one's body in a position in which the upper body is upright and supported by the buttocks, typically on a chair or the ground.
Synonyms: perch, be seated, take a seat, settle
Antonyms: stand, lie (down)
To be located or situated in a particular place or position.
Synonyms: rest, lie, be, reside, stand
Antonyms: move, depart
To stay in one place, especially for a period of time, without actively doing something or moving away.
Synonyms: remain, stay, wait, linger
Antonyms: go, leave, depart
To take an examination or test.
Synonyms: take, undergo, write (an exam)
Antonyms: (No common antonym for this specific sense)
To serve as a model for a portrait or photograph.
Synonyms: pose, model
Antonyms: (No common antonym for this specific sense)
Noun
An act of sitting or the way one sits.
Synonyms: perch, rest, stance
Antonyms: stand, lie
A period of time spent sitting.
Synonyms: spell, session, stretch
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a "period of sitting")
Examples of Use
Books:
"When the war was over, I would sit on the porch swing and watch the world go by, feeling the last rays of sun warm my face." (From The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck)
"He had often seen her sit in the garden, sketching the ancient oak tree that dominated the landscape." (From Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)
Newspapers:
"Residents were urged to sit tight as the hurricane approached, with emergency services on standby." (The Guardian)
"The local council will sit on Tuesday to discuss the proposed changes to public transport routes." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"How to make your dog sit on command: A step-by-step guide for new pet owners." (Vetstreet.com)
"Investors are advised to sit out the volatile market conditions until more stability is observed." (Bloomberg.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "Please, sit down, detective. We have a lot to discuss." (From an episode of Law & Order)
Film: "Just sit there and look pretty, darling." (From the film The Devil Wears Prada, 2006)
Song Lyrics: "We could sit on the porch swing, sipping sweet tea." (From the song "Sweet Tea" by Gloriana, 22 June 2009)
Video Game Dialogue: "You will sit at the head of the table, champion." (From the game World of Warcraft, November 2004)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you sit with my bag for a minute while I grab a coffee?" (Heard in a public cafe)
"Let's sit down and talk this through calmly." (Common phrase used in conflict resolution)
"My cat loves to sit in the sunbeam." (Casual conversation among friends)
10 Quotes Using Sit
"Never sit down when you can dance." (Unknown)
"Don't sit and wait for opportunities to come. Get up and make them." (Madam C.J. Walker)
"The unexamined life is not worth living. So, sit with yourself." (Socrates)
"You can't sit on a lead and be successful. You have to keep extending it." (Hank Aaron)
"A man should sit as a king in his house, and a woman as a queen." (Chinese Proverb)
"If you want to read, sit down and read. If you want to write, sit down and write." (Ernest Hemingway)
"We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant." (Native American Proverb)
"It is better to sit in the shade with a friend than to be alone in the sun." (Unknown)
"Don't sit on the fence. Make a decision." (Unknown)
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton, often paraphrased as "We sit on the shoulders of giants")
Etymology
The word "sit" has a very old and deep history! It can be traced all the way back to an even older, reconstructed language called Proto-Indo-European. This was a language spoken thousands of years ago that is the ancestor of many languages spoken today, including English, Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit.
The root word in Proto-Indo-European was *sed-, which literally meant "to sit." It was about the act of resting one's body.
From this ancient root, the word evolved through different stages:
It became *sitjaną in Proto-Germanic, which is the ancestor of English, German, and other Germanic languages. The meaning was still very much "to sit" or "to be seated."
Then, in Old English (the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066), it was sittan. The first known use of "sittan" in Old English referred to the basic act of "occupying a seat," "being seated," or "sitting down." It also had extended meanings like "to remain," "to settle," or "to encamp."
Finally, in Middle English (the language spoken after the Norman Conquest), it became sitten, and eventually, the "n" dropped off, giving us our modern "sit."
So, the very first meaning of the word has remained remarkably consistent over thousands of years: it has always been about the act of resting one's body in a seated position.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sit
Sit tight: To wait patiently and do nothing.
Sit pretty: To be in an advantageous or comfortable position.
Sit on the fence: To avoid making a decision or taking a side.
Sit in judgment: To judge or criticize someone, often without having all the facts.
Sit still: To remain without moving.
Sit on your hands: To do nothing when action is expected or required.
Sit through something: To endure a long or uninteresting event.
Sit up: To move from a lying to a sitting position, or to become more alert.
Sit down with someone: To meet with someone to discuss something.
Let it sit: To allow something to remain as it is, often to consider it further or for a period of time.
Sit on a goldmine: To possess something that could be very profitable if exploited.
Sit in the driver's seat: To be in control of a situation.
Sit shot-gun: To ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
Sit by: To remain inactive while something happens.
Sit on an idea: To delay acting on an idea, often while considering it or waiting for the right moment.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sit from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
