# sit

/ˈsɪt/ (US) · /sˈɪt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to rest on a seat

verb · CEFR A1

to be in a position where your bottom is on a chair or the floor and your back is upright.

For teachers: to rest with the torso upright and the body's weight supported by the buttocks and thighs.

- We sat on the park bench for an hour and watched the birds.
- The elderly gentleman preferred to sit in the armchair by the window, where the light was best for reading his morning newspaper.

### 2. to move into a seat

verb · CEFR A1

to move your body from standing to a sitting position.

For teachers: to transition from a standing to a seated posture. Often used with the particle 'down'.

- Please sit down and make yourself comfortable while I get some tea.
- The audience was requested to sit once the national anthem had concluded and the guest of honour had reached the podium.

### 3. to be located

verb · CEFR B1

to be in a particular place or position.

For teachers: to occupy a specific location or position; often used of inanimate objects to describe their placement.

- The old house sits on top of a hill overlooking the sea.
- The dusty trophies continued to sit on the mantelpiece, serving as a silent reminder of the school's former athletic glory.

### 4. official meeting

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

when a group of people like a court or parliament has an official meeting.

For teachers: to be in session or to perform official duties in a deliberative or judicial capacity.

- Parliament will sit next week to discuss the new education laws.
- The High Court is scheduled to sit in the capital this month to hear the landmark environmental appeal.

### 5. to take an exam

verb · CEFR B1 · British English

to take a test or an exam.

For teachers: to undergo or complete a formal examination. Transitive in this sense.

- I have to sit my final driving test tomorrow morning.
- Medical students are required to sit a series of rigorous practical assessments before they can qualify for their clinical rotations.

### 6. to fit

verb · CEFR B2

the way a piece of clothing fits your body.

For teachers: to fit or hang in a particular way when worn.

- That jacket sits very well on your shoulders.
- The tailor noted that the silk gown did not sit correctly across the bodice, requiring further adjustments to the seams.

### 7. to be acceptable

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to be accepted or liked by someone.

For teachers: to be perceived or accepted in a specific way; usually used with 'well' or 'badly'.

- His rude comment didn't sit well with the rest of the team.
- The board's decision to reduce the annual bonus did not sit well with the senior staff, leading to a formal grievance.

### 8. act of sitting

noun · CEFR B2

a period of time spent sitting down.

For teachers: a period of time during which one remains seated, often for a specific purpose like a meal or a portrait.

- I managed to finish the whole book in one sit.
- The artist requested a second sit to finalise the details of the subject's expression under the studio lights.

## Examples

- Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.
- The students sit at their desks every morning to listen to the teacher's instructions.
- While the committee members sit in the gallery to observe the proceedings, they are strictly forbidden from participating in the formal debate occurring on the floor.

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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.