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sitting

n. · adj.
US //ˈsɪtɪŋ// UK //sˈɪtɪŋ// sit·ting
  1. 1 a single period of activity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a period of time where you stay in one place to finish a task.

    a continuous period of time spent engaged in a specific activity without interruption.

    Example

    The book was so exciting that I read the whole thing in one sitting.

    Example

    The artist required three separate sittings to capture the subtle play of light on the subject's face for the portrait.
  2. 2 a formal meeting (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a formal meeting of a group of people like a court or a parliament.

    a formal session of a legislative body, court of law, or committee.

    Example

    The court's next sitting will take place on Monday morning.

    Example

    During the final sitting of the parliamentary session, several controversial amendments were pushed through with minimal debate.
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  1. 3 currently in office (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Academic

    someone who is currently holding an official position or job.

    currently holding a specified office or position; incumbent.

    Example

    It is very difficult for a challenger to defeat a sitting president.

    Example

    The sitting governor faced intense scrutiny from the press regarding the recent budgetary shortfalls in the education sector.
  2. 4 done while seated (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    done or performed while you are in a chair.

    executed or performed from a seated posture.

    Example

    The doctor recommended some sitting exercises for his elderly patient.

    Example

    The yoga instructor demonstrated a sitting pose designed to stretch the hips and improve spinal alignment.
Etymology 1

From Middle English sittyng, sittynge, equivalent to sit + -ing. Cognate with Dutch zitting (“a sitting, session”), German Sitzung (“a sitting, session”), Swedish sittning (“a sitting, session”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English sittinge, sittynge, variant of sittinde, sittende, sittande, from Old English sittende (“sitting”), from Proto-Germanic sitjandz (“sitting”), present participle of Proto-Germanic sitjaną (“to sit”), equivalent to sit + -ing. Cognate with West Frisian sittend (“sitting”), Dutch zittend (“sitting”), German sitzend (“sitting”), Swedish sittande (“sitting”), Icelandic sitjandi (“sitting”).

Idioms2 entries

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