Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of 'sit'):
   • To have been in a position where one's weight is supported by one's buttocks rather than one's feet, with the torso upright. This is the simple past tense and past participle form of the verb 'to sit'.
   • To have been located or situated in a particular place.
   • To have been a member of a committee, council, or other official body.

Usage

• As the main verb in past tense constructions:
  • She sat on the bench and waited.
  • The books have sat on that shelf for years.
• To indicate past position or location:
  • The village sat at the foot of the mountain.
  • A sense of dread sat heavily in the room.
• To indicate past membership or participation:
  • He sat on the board of directors for a decade.

Advanced Usage

• "to have sat" (present perfect): Indicates an action completed at an unspecified time in the past or with relevance to the present.
  • I have sat through many boring lectures.
• "to be sat" (chiefly British, informal): Used as a passive construction equivalent to 'to be sitting'.
  • We were sat at the back of the hall.

Variants and Related Words

• Sit (v): The base form of the verb.
• Sits (v): Third person singular present tense.
• Sitting (v): Present participle.
• Sitter (n): A person who sits, especially for a portrait, or a babysitter.

Synonyms

• Perched: To be situated in a high or precarious position.
• Resting: To cease work or movement in order to relax.
• Resided: To have one's permanent home in a particular place (for the 'located' sense).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Sat down: Moved into a sitting position.
  • He sat down and began to read.
• Sat for:
  • Posed for a portrait or photograph.

    • She sat for a famous painter.
  • Represented a constituency as its elected member.

    • He sat for Bristol in Parliament.
• Sat in on: Attended a meeting, class, etc., as an observer or visitor without participating.
  • I sat in on the committee meeting to learn the process.
• Sat out: Did not participate in an activity; endured something until it finished.
  • She sat out the last dance.
  • We had to sit out the storm in the basement.
• Sat up:
  • Moved from a lying to a sitting position.

    • The patient sat up in bed.
  • Stayed awake later than usual.

    • We sat up talking all night.

Related Idioms

• Sat tight: Remained in one's place without taking action; waited patiently.
  • The investors were advised to sit tight during the market volatility.
• Sat on the fence: Refused to make a decision or take sides in a dispute.
  • He sat on the fence for weeks before choosing a candidate.
• Sat well/badly with someone: Was acceptable or unacceptable to someone.
  • His decision did not sit well with the team.
• Sat in judgment (of/on): Adopted a critical or superior attitude.
  • It's not for us to sit in judgment on their lifestyle.

Noun

1. the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians