to rest with the body supported by the buttocks or thighs; be seated.

to be located or situated

The house sits well up on the slope.

to rest or lie (usually fol. by on or upon )

An aura of greatness sits easily upon him.

to place oneself in position for an artist, photographer, etc.; pose

to sit for a portrait.

to remain quiet or inactive

They let the matter sit.

(of a bird) to perch or roost.

(of a hen) to cover eggs to hatch them; brood.

to fit, rest, or hang, as a garment

The jacket sits well on your shoulders.

to occupy a place or have a seat in an official assembly or in an official capacity, as a legislator, judge, or bishop.

to be convened or in session, as an assembly.

to act as a baby-sitter.

(of wind) to blow from the indicated direction

The wind sits in the west tonight.

to be accepted or considered in the way indicated

Something about his looks just didn't sit right with me.

Informal . to be acceptable to the stomach

Something I ate for breakfast didn't sit too well.

to cause to sit; seat (often fol. by down )

Sit yourself down. He sat me near him.

to sit astride or keep one's seat on (a horse or other animal)

She sits her horse gracefully.

to provide seating accommodations or seating room for; seat

Our dining-room table only sits six people.

Informal . to serve as baby-sitter for

A neighbor can sit the children while you go out.

sit down,

to take a seat.

to descend to a sitting position; alight.

to take up a position, as to encamp or besiege

The military forces sat down at the approaches to the city.

sit in,

to attend or take part as a visitor or temporary participant

to sit in at a bridge game; to sit in for the band's regular pianist.

to take part in a sit-in.

sit in on, to be a spectator, observer, or visitor at

to sit in on classes.

sit on or upon,

to inquire into or deliberate over

A coroner's jury was called to sit on the case.

Informal . to suppress; silence

They sat on the bad news as long as they could.

Informal . to check or rebuke; squelch

I'll sit on him if he tries to interrupt me.

sit out,

to stay to the end of

Though bored, we sat out the play.

to surpass in endurance

He sat out his tormentors.

to keep one's seat during (a dance, competition, etc.); fail to participate in

We sat out all the Latin-American numbers.

sit up,

to rise from a supine to a sitting position.

to delay the hour of retiring beyond the usual time.

to sit upright; hold oneself erect.

Informal . to become interested or astonished

We all sat up when the holiday was announced.

sit on one's hands

to fail to applaud.

to fail to take appropriate action.

sit pretty

Informal . to be in a comfortable situation

He's been sitting pretty ever since he got that new job.

sit tight

to bide one's time; take no action

I'm going to sit tight till I hear from you.

verb

stand , cancel

verb

bear on , be seated , cover , ensconce , give feet a rest , grab a chair , have a place , have a seat , hunker , install , lie , park * , perch * , plop down , pose , posture , put it there , relax , remain , rest , seat , seat oneself , settle , squat , take a load off , take a place , take a seatnotes:to set is to place something; to sit is to be seated , assemble , be in session , come together , convene , deliberate , hold an assembly , meet , officiate , open , presidenotes:to set is to place something; to sit is to be seated , brood , endure , occupy , perch , please , repose , roost , set , stay , unused , weigh

phrasal verb

burke , choke , gag , hold back , hold down , hush , muffle , quench , smother , squelch , stifle , strangle , suppress , throttle