sitting

SIT-ing/ˈsɪtɪŋ/

Noun pluralsittings

11 meanings of sitting

Practice

1
verb
Present participle of sit. Use this form for an action that is happening over a stretch of time.
The dog was sitting by the door, waiting to go outside.
She kept sitting on the cold steps until her friend arrived.
Note
2
nouncountable
A length of time you spend seated to do one thing, like eating a meal or posing for a portrait.
Like one full turn at a task before you stop for a break.
She finished the whole book in one sitting.
The painter asked for a second sitting to complete the portrait.
Similarsession
Note
3
nouncountable
An unbroken stretch of time spent doing one thing without stopping.
Like running without stopping until you reach the very end.
He finished the entire jigsaw in one sitting.
After such a long sitting at her desk, her back was sore.
Similarsession, stint, go (entry)
4
adjective
Currently holding an official job or position, like a judge or a member of government.
Like the player who currently holds the title until someone beats them.
The sitting mayor will speak at the event tonight.
Voters often re-elect the sitting member of their district.
Similarincumbent, current
Oppositeformer
Note
5
nouncountable
A single meeting of a parliament or council held to do its business.
Like one class period when the whole group meets to get things done.
The new law passed during yesterday's sitting.
Members argued for hours at the morning sitting.
Similarsession, meeting
Note
6
adjective
Done while a person stays seated, not standing or lying down.
Like shooting a basket from a chair instead of standing up.
The marksman took a sitting shot at the distant target.
Yoga classes include both standing and sitting poses.
Similarseated
Oppositestanding, prone
7
nouncountable
The time of year when courts are open and hearing cases.
Like the school year: the months when classes are actually in session.
Many cases are scheduled during the fall sitting.
The court's winter sitting begins in January.
Similarsession, term
Oppositerecess, vacation
8
nouncountable
A meeting with a fortune-teller or medium to reach spirits or learn the future.
Like a private appointment, but the visitor hopes to talk to the dead.
She booked a sitting with a famous medium last week.
During the sitting, the table seemed to shake on its own.
Similarseance, session, reading
Note
9
nouncountable
A seat kept for one particular person, especially in a church.
Like a saved seat at the theater that only one person may use.
The family paid for their own sitting in the village church.
Her grandmother always took the same sitting near the altar.
Similarseat, pew
10
nouncountable
The act of a bird resting on its eggs to keep them warm until they hatch.
Like keeping a warm blanket over something to hold in its heat.
The hen's sitting lasted nearly three weeks.
After a long sitting, the eggs finally began to hatch.
Similarincubation, brooding
11
nouncountable
A group of eggs that a bird lays and keeps warm at one time.
Like a full batch of cookies baked together in one go.
The hen produced a sitting of twelve eggs.
A whole sitting was lost to the fox overnight.
Similarclutch, setting
Note

sitting is a form of sit

sit, verb: To rest your weight on your bottom with your back upright, or to move into that position. Full entry

Forms: sitsits he/she/itsitting -ing formsat past tense, past participle
Spelling: sit → sitting: double the t, add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of sitting apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2–3, 5, 7–11

From Middle English sittyng, made from sit plus -ing.

Meanings 1, 4, 6

From Old English sittende, the present participle of the verb meaning 'to sit'.