# seat

/ˈsit/ (US) · /sˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/seat
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. something to sit on

noun · CEFR A2

a chair, stool, or any place where you can sit.

For teachers: a piece of furniture or a specific place designed for sitting.

- Is this seat taken, or can I sit here to eat my lunch?
- The stadium was upgraded to include more comfortable seats and better access for spectators with disabilities.

### 2. part of a garment

noun · CEFR B2

the part of your trousers or skirt that covers your bottom.

For teachers: the part of a garment that covers the buttocks.

- He realized there was a small hole in the seat of his jeans.
- The tailor reinforced the seat of the trousers to ensure they would withstand the rigours of daily wear.

### 3. a centre or location

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the place where a government, court, or organization is based.

For teachers: the place where a government, authority, or institution is located or has its headquarters.

- Strasbourg is the seat of the European Parliament.
- The city has served as the seat of government for over three centuries, surviving numerous political upheavals.

### 4. membership in a group

noun · CEFR B2

an official position as a member of a group, like a parliament or a committee.

For teachers: membership or a position in a legislative or corporate body.

- She won a seat on the local council in the last election.
- The party is fighting to retain its seat in the upcoming by-election despite falling poll numbers.

### 5. to provide sitting space

verb · CEFR B1

to have enough space for a certain number of people to sit.

For teachers: to provide sitting accommodation for a specific number of people.

- The new restaurant can seat up to fifty people at once.
- The auditorium was designed to seat three thousand guests, featuring acoustics that carry sound perfectly to the back row.

### 6. to show someone to a place

verb · CEFR B1

to help someone find their place to sit.

For teachers: to direct or escort someone to a specific sitting place.

- The host will seat you as soon as your table is ready.
- The ushers began to seat the guests twenty minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to commence.

### 7. to fix in place

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to fit something firmly into a specific position.

For teachers: to fit or settle something firmly into a correct or desired position.

- Make sure the battery is properly seated before you close the cover.
- The technician ensured the valve was correctly seated to prevent any pressure leakage during the high-intensity test phase of the test.

## Examples

- Please take a seat and wait for the doctor.
- The flight was fully booked, so I was lucky to get an aisle seat near the front.
- The auditorium features tiered seating to ensure that every guest has an unobstructed view of the stage regardless of their position in the hall.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.