sit upon

Variant of sit

sit definition

sit (sit)

intransitive verb sat, sitting sit′·ting

    1. to rest the weight of the body upon the buttocks and the back of the thighs, as on a chair; be seated
    2. to rest on the haunches with the forelegs braced: said of quadrupeds
    3. to perch or roost: said of birds
  2. to cover and warm eggs for hatching; set; brood
    1. to occupy a seat in the capacity of judge, legislator, etc.
    2. to be in session, as a court or legislature
  4. to pose for one's portrait or as a model
  5. Chiefly Brit. to take an examination (for a degree, scholarship, etc.)
  6. to be or remain inactive
  7. to be located or have a place a house sitting up on the hill
  8. to fit or hang on the wearer a coat that sits loosely
  9. to rest or lie as specified cares sit lightly upon him
  10. ☆
    1. baby-sit
    2. to care for a person or thing as for a short time: usually used in combination housesit
  11. to have a certain direction; set: said of the wind

Etymology: ME sitten < OE sittan, akin to ON sitja, Ger sitzen < IE base *sed-, to sit > L sedere, Gr hizein, Welsh seddu, to sit

transitive verb

  1. to place in a seat; cause to sit; seat: often used reflexively to sit oneself down
  2. to keep one's seat on (a horse, etc.)
  3. to have seats or seating space for
  4. ☆ baby-sit

noun

  1. the time spent in a seated position, esp. while waiting
  2. the way a coat, dress, etc. hangs when put on
sit Idioms

sit back

  1. to relax
  2. to remain passive

sit down

  1. to lower oneself to a sitting position; take a seat
  2. to settle down for or as for a siege

sit in

to take part; participate; attend: often with on

sit on

or sit upon
  1. to serve as a member of (a jury, committee, etc.)
  2. to confer on or investigate
  3. Informal to suppress, repress, or squelch
  4. Informal to hold (something) back from being considered or acted on

sit on one's hands

☆
  1. to fail to applaud
  2. to fail to do what is needed or expected

sit out

  1. to stay until the end of
  2. to stay longer than (another); outsit
  3. to remain seated during or take no part in (a dance, game, etc.)

sit up

  1. to rise to a sitting position
  2. to sit erect
  3. to sit solely on the haunches with the forelegs held up in front of the chest: said of animals
  4. to put off going to bed
  5. Informal to become suddenly alert

sit well with

to be agreeable to

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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