sit
/sɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /sɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsit/ (ame, mw)
sit — verb
- sitpresent simple I / you / we / they
- sitshe / she / it
- satpast simple
- sitting-ing form
1. to place your body weight on your seat area — usually on a chair, the floor, or
to place your body weight on your seat area — usually on a chair, the floor, or another surface — with your upper body upright; or to put someone else into that position.
Theo sat on the wooden bench and opened his lunch bag.
sit + on + [surface]
Tendai sat the little girl on a high stool so she could see the stage.
transitive: sit + person + on + [location]
The children were told to sit quietly on the floor in a circle.
An old man sat by the window reading a newspaper all afternoon.
Please sit next to your partner so you can share the book.
- be seated
more formal; describes the state rather than the action
- take a seat
polite instruction, as in 'please take a seat'
- stand
to be on your feet with weight on your legs
文法句型
sit + [preposition/adverb]
sit + object + [preposition/adverb]
用法筆記
Transitive use (cause someone to sit) is less common than intransitive. The object is usually a child or an animal, and a location phrase is almost always required.
常見錯誤
2. to stay still in a particular position so that a painter, sculptor, or photograp
to stay still in a particular position so that a painter, sculptor, or photographer can make a picture of you.
Élise sat for the painter three times before the portrait was finished.
sit for + [artist]
The museum hired local students to sit as models for life-drawing classes.
sit as [a model]
Brian sat patiently while the photographer adjusted the lighting behind him.
Yara asked her grandmother to sit for a family photograph in the garden.
文法句型
sit for + [person]
sit + for + [purpose]
用法筆記
Always followed by 'for' or 'as' when specifying the artist or role. The preposition 'for' introduces the person or purpose.
3. to bend the back legs and lower the rear body to the ground, keeping the front l
to bend the back legs and lower the rear body to the ground, keeping the front legs straight — used mainly for dogs and other four-legged animals.
Baraka told his dog to sit before giving it a treat.
command: tell/call + animal + to sit
A small brown dog sat by the gate and waited for its owner.
The cats in the shelter sit in a row every evening at feeding time.
When the puppy sits on command, Cyrus gives it a piece of cheese.
文法句型
sit + [adverb]
animal + sits
用法筆記
Most commonly used for dogs. For cats and other animals, 'sit' is also correct but less frequent. The command form 'Sit!' is a standard obedience cue.
4. to settle on a nest, using the parent bird's body to warm the eggs until the bab
to settle on a nest, using the parent bird's body to warm the eggs until the baby birds come out of their shells; or to perch on a branch or other high spot.
A mother sparrow sat on her nest under the roof for two weeks.
bird + sit on + [nest]
The hen sits her eggs every spring without ever leaving them.
transitive: sit + eggs
Pigeons often sit on the ledge outside the library windows.
Beatriz watched a blue jay sit quietly on a branch near the feeder.
The robin sat on its eggs through a storm that lasted all night.
文法句型
bird + sits + on + [eggs/nest]
bird + sits + eggs
用法筆記
Transitive use ('sit eggs') is limited to domestic birds such as hens. For wild birds, the intransitive pattern 'sit on eggs' is far more common.
5. to remain somewhere untouched, unmoved, or unused for an extended period — used
to remain somewhere untouched, unmoved, or unused for an extended period — used for objects that have been ignored or forgotten.
Those old books have been sitting on the shelf for years untouched.
present perfect continuous: have been sitting
A broken bicycle sat in the garage until Andrei finally fixed it.
Hoa found a box of old photographs sitting in the back of a closet.
The car just sits in the driveway because nobody in the family can drive.
- gather dust
more vivid; adds the image of dust collecting on the unused object
- stay
neutral; does not carry the sense of neglect or disuse
- move
to change position or be transported somewhere else
文法句型
object + sits + [adverb of place]
sit + around
用法筆記
Commonly used with present perfect continuous ('has been sitting') to emphasise how long something has been unused. Often expresses a tone of waste or neglect.
6. to occupy a physical spot, such as a building on a hill or a town beside a river
to occupy a physical spot, such as a building on a hill or a town beside a river — used when describing where something is positioned.
The village sits at the foot of a large mountain in the north.
settlement + sits + [location]
A small wooden shed sits behind the main house near the garden.
The new hospital sits on a hill overlooking the whole city.
Those two tall towers sit on the riverbank next to the old bridge.
A large stone fountain sits in the middle of the town square.
- be located
more formal; commonly used in writing and official descriptions
- stand
suggests a vertical or upright position
- lie
suggests a flat or horizontal position; often used for landscapes
文法句型
subject + sits + [prepositional phrase of place]
用法筆記
This sense is about physical placement only, not suitability or correctness (contrast with sense 12, 'SEEM RIGHT' in a separate chunk). For abstract location (e.g. 'the decision sits well with me'), see the suitability sense.
7. When you describe how clothes sit, you mean the way they lie against or hang aro
When you describe how clothes sit, you mean the way they lie against or hang around the body — for instance, whether they feel loose, rest flat on the shoulders, or are tight across the waist.
The jacket sits well on her shoulders and does not feel tight.
sit + adverb/preposition describing fit of clothes
Élise tried on the dress, but it sat awkwardly around her hips.
These trousers sit low on the waist, which makes them very comfortable.
The collar sits too high on his neck, so he put the shirt back.
Nadia bought the coat because it sat perfectly across her back.
文法句型
sit + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Subject of this sense is always the item of clothing, not the person wearing it.
常見錯誤
8. When an official body such as a committee, parliament, or panel of judges gather
When an official body such as a committee, parliament, or panel of judges gathers to carry out its duties, it sits for a session.
The committee will sit again next Tuesday to discuss the budget.
sit for official meetings of committees, courts, etc.
The court sat for three hours before reaching a verdict.
Parliament sits until late in the evening when there is an important debate.
The panel sat for two weeks to review all the evidence.
Ife attended the session when the council sat to vote on the new law.
文法句型
sit + (time/duration) + to-infinitive
用法筆記
The subject is always a collective body (committee, court, parliament, panel, council), never an individual. To describe an individual taking part, use sense 9 (sit on).
9. To be chosen or appointed to take part in the work of a committee, board, panel,
To be chosen or appointed to take part in the work of a committee, board, panel, or similar official group.
Caleb sits on the board of the local hospital.
sit on [committee/board/panel]
Anjali has been sitting on the school committee for three years.
Three judges will sit on the panel that decides the winner of the award.
Eitan sits on the safety review board for the construction company.
Lucía was asked to sit on the organising team for the annual festival.
文法句型
sit on [committee/board/panel]
用法筆記
Always requires the preposition on before the name of the group. Unlike sense 8, the subject is an individual person, not the group itself.
常見錯誤
10. To write answers to the questions in a formal test or examination, especially as
To write answers to the questions in a formal test or examination, especially as part of a school course or a qualification (British English).
James will sit his final maths exam next Monday.
sit + exam (BrE, transitive)
Students across the country are sitting the university entrance test this week.
Elena sat the driving test twice before she passed.
Hyun decided to sit the English proficiency exam to apply for the scholarship.
Salma sat her history exam early because she had a family trip planned.
- take
more common internationally; sit is primarily BrE
文法句型
sit [exam/test/examination]
用法筆記
Primarily British English. In American English, take the exam is preferred. The object can be a specific subject (sit history) or a type of test (sit the driving test).
常見錯誤
11. To watch over someone else's young child or children in the parents' absence — f
To watch over someone else's young child or children in the parents' absence — for example, in the evening while the parents go out for a meal or an event.
Could you sit for the neighbours' children on Saturday evening?
sit for [children/family] (short for babysit)
Christopher sits for the Wilson family every Friday night.
Nadia earned extra money by sitting for several families in the area.
I cannot go out tonight because I am sitting for my sister's kids.
Salma often sits for the baby next door when the parents need a break.
文法句型
sit for [children/family]
sit + object
用法筆記
A shortened form of babysit, common in British English. Usually intransitive (sit for someone), though transitive use (sit the children) occurs informally.
常見錯誤
12. To look or feel correct and harmonious where something is located or how it is r
To look or feel correct and harmonious where something is located or how it is received — for example, a piece of furniture in a room, or a remark in a discussion.
The large painting does not sit well in such a small room.
sit well/badly in [place]
His sharp comments did not sit well with the rest of the team.
sit well with [someone] (figurative)
That modern sofa would sit nicely in the corner of your living room.
Her decision to leave the company did not sit well with the manager.
The new building does not sit naturally among the old houses in the street.
文法句型
sit well/comfortably/naturally + adverb/preposition
sit with [someone]
用法筆記
Most common in negative or question constructions (does not sit well, would it sit better...). The adverb well appears in the majority of uses. Can describe both physical placement and abstract acceptability.
常見錯誤
sit — noun
1. the way that a piece of clothing fits on or hangs from a person's body
the way that a piece of clothing fits on or hangs from a person's body
The tailor checked the sit of the jacket at the shoulders.
collocation: sit of [garment]
Bao admired the perfect sit of his new silk blouse.
A good sit across the back makes a dress look elegant.
The sit of these trousers feels tighter than the last pair.
用法筆記
More common in British English and in tailoring or fashion contexts. The noun 'sit' is less frequent than the verb 'sit'.
常見錯誤
2. a period of time during which someone sits, or a single act of sitting down
a period of time during which someone sits, or a single act of sitting down
After a long sit in the waiting room, Asher finally saw the doctor.
collocation: long sit / brief sit
The old dog enjoyed a brief sit by the warm fire after dinner.
Ritu took a sit on the grass to rest during the hike.
A short sit on the park bench helped clear Esteban's mind.
用法筆記
Often paired with an adjective describing duration ('long,' 'brief,' 'short'). The construction 'have a sit' or 'take a sit' is informal.