HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

sit

(sĭt)

v. sat (săt), sit·ting, sits

v.intr.

1. To rest with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks.

a. To rest with the hindquarters lowered onto a supporting surface. Used of animals.

b. To perch. Used of birds.

3. To cover eggs for hatching; brood.

4. To be situated or located: a house that sits on a hill.

5. To lie or rest: Dishes were sitting on a shelf. See Usage Note at set¹.

6. To pose for an artist or photographer.

a. To occupy a seat as a member of a body of officials: sit in Congress.

b. To be in session.

8. To remain inactive or unused: Her expensive skis sat gathering dust.

9. To affect one with or as if with a burden; weigh: Official duties sat heavily upon the governor.

10. To fit, fall, or drape in a specified manner: The jacket sits perfectly on you.

11. To be agreeable to one; please: The idea didn't sit well with any of us.

12. Chiefly British To take an examination, as for a degree.

13. To blow from a particular direction. Used of the wind.

14. To keep watch or take care of a child.

v.tr.

1. To cause to sit; seat: Sit yourself over there.

2. To keep one's seat on (an animal): She sits her horse well.

3. To sit on (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.

4. To provide seating accommodation for: a theater that sits 1,000 people.

a. The act of sitting.

b. A period of time spent sitting.

2. The way in which an article of clothing, such as a dress or jacket, fits.

Phrasal Verbs:

sit down

To take a seat.

sit in

1. To be present or participate as a visitor at a discussion or music session.

2. To act as a substitute: She sat in for the vacationing news anchor.

3. To take part in a sit-in.

sit on (or upon)

1. To confer about.

2. To suppress or repress: sat on the evidence.

3. To postpone action or resolution regarding.

4. Slang To rebuke sharply; reprimand.

sit out

1. To stay until the end of.

2. To refrain from taking part in: sit out a dance.

sit up

1. To rise from lying down to a sitting position.

2. To sit with the spine erect.

3. To stay up later than the customary bedtime.

4. To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when he mentioned the test.

Idioms:

sit on (one's) hands

To fail to act.

sit pretty Informal

To be in a very favorable position.

sit tight Informal

To be patient and await the next move.

[Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan; see sed- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products