6 results for: sit up

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sit-up

Audio Help [sit-uhp] Pronunciation Key

–noun

an exercise in which a person lies flat on the back, lifts the torso to a sitting position, and then lies flat again without changing the position of the legs: formerly done with the legs straight but now usually done with the knees bent.

[Origin: 1835–45; n. use of v. phrase sit up

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
sit up

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

sit1

Audio Help [sit] Pronunciation Key verb, sat or (Archaic

) sate; sat or (Archaic

) sit·ten; sit·ting.

–verb (used without object)

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

2.	to be located or situated: The house sits well up on the slope.

3.	to rest or lie (usually fol. by on or upon): An aura of greatness sits easily upon him.

4.	to place oneself in position for an artist, photographer, etc.; pose: to sit for a portrait.

5.	to remain quiet or inactive: They let the matter sit.

6.	(of a bird) to perch or roost.

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

8.	to fit, rest, or hang, as a garment: The jacket sits well on your shoulders.

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

10.	to be convened or in session, as an assembly.

11.	to act as a baby-sitter.

12.	(of wind) to blow from the indicated direction: The wind sits in the west tonight.

13.	to be accepted or considered in the way indicated: Something about his looks just didn't sit right with me.

14.	Informal. to be acceptable to the stomach: Something I ate for breakfast didn't sit too well.

–verb (used with object)

15.	to cause to sit; seat (often fol. by down): Sit yourself down. He sat me near him.

16.	to sit astride or keep one's seat on (a horse or other animal): She sits her horse gracefully.

17.	to provide seating accommodations or seating room for; seat: Our dining-room table only sits six people.

18.	Informal. to serve as baby-sitter for: A neighbor can sit the children while you go out.

—Verb phrases

19.

sit down,

a.	to take a seat.

b.	to descend to a sitting position; alight.

c.	to take up a position, as to encamp or besiege: The military forces sat down at the approaches to the city.

20.

sit in,

a.	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.

b.	to take part in a sit-in.

21.	sit in on, to be a spectator, observer, or visitor at: to sit in on classes.

22.

sit on or upon,

a.	to inquire into or deliberate over: A coroner's jury was called to sit on the case.

b.	Informal. to suppress; silence: They sat on the bad news as long as they could.

c.	Informal. to check or rebuke; squelch: I'll sit on him if he tries to interrupt me.

23.

sit out,

a.	to stay to the end of: Though bored, we sat out the play.

b.	to surpass in endurance: He sat out his tormentors.

c.	to keep one's seat during (a dance, competition, etc.); fail to participate in: We sat out all the Latin-American numbers.

24.

sit up,

a.	to rise from a supine to a sitting position.

b.	to delay the hour of retiring beyond the usual time.

c.	to sit upright; hold oneself erect.

d.	Informal. to become interested or astonished: We all sat up when the holiday was announced.

—Idioms

25.

sit on one's hands,

a.	to fail to applaud.

b.	to fail to take appropriate action.

26.	sit pretty, Informal. to be in a comfortable situation: He's been sitting pretty ever since he got that new job.

27.	sit tight, to bide one's time; take no action: I'm going to sit tight till I hear from you.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME sitten, OE sittan; c. D zitten, G sitzen, ON sitja; akin to Goth sitan, L sedére, Gk hézesthai (base hed-); cf. set, sedate, cathedral, nest

]

—Synonyms 10. meet, assemble, convene, gather.

—Usage note Compare set.

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

sit Audio Help   (sĭt) Pronunciation Key
v.   sat (sāt), sit·ting, sits

v.   intr.

To rest with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks.
1. To rest with the hindquarters lowered onto a supporting surface. Used of animals.
2. To perch. Used of birds.
3. To occupy a seat as a member of a body of officials: sit in Congress.
4. To be in session.
To cover eggs for hatching; brood.
To be situated or located: a house that sits on a hill.
To lie or rest: Dishes were sitting on a shelf. See Usage Note at set¹.
To pose for an artist or photographer.
1. To occupy a seat as a member of a body of officials: sit in Congress.
2. To be in session.
To remain inactive or unused: Her expensive skis sat gathering dust.
To affect one with or as if with a burden; weigh: Official duties sat heavily upon the governor.
To fit, fall, or drape in a specified manner: The jacket sits perfectly on you.
To be agreeable to one; please: The idea didn't sit well with any of us.
Chiefly British To take an examination, as for a degree.
To blow from a particular direction. Used of the wind.
To keep watch or take care of a child.

v. tr.

To cause to sit; seat: Sit yourself over there.
To keep one's seat on (an animal): She sits her horse well.
To sit on (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
To provide seating accommodation for: a theater that sits 1,000 people.

1. The act of sitting.
2. A period of time spent sitting.
The way in which an article of clothing, such as a dress or jacket, fits.
To be present or participate as a visitor at a discussion or music session.
To act as a substitute: She sat in for the vacationing news anchor.
To take part in a sit-in.
To confer about.
To suppress or repress: sat on the evidence.
To postpone action or resolution regarding.
Slang To rebuke sharply; reprimand.
To stay until the end of.
To refrain from taking part in: sit out a dance.
To rise from lying down to a sitting position.
To sit with the spine erect.
To stay up later than the customary bedtime.
To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when he mentioned the test.

Phrasal Verb(s):
sit down
To take a seat.
sit in

To be present or participate as a visitor at a discussion or music session.
To act as a substitute: She sat in for the vacationing news anchor.
To take part in a sit-in.

sit on/upon Informal

To confer about.
To suppress or repress: sat on the evidence.
To postpone action or resolution regarding.
Slang To rebuke sharply; reprimand.

sit out

To stay until the end of.
To refrain from taking part in: sit out a dance.

sit up

To rise from lying down to a sitting position.
To sit with the spine erect.
To stay up later than the customary bedtime.
To become suddenly alert: The students sat up when he mentioned the test.

Idiom(s):
sit on (one's) hands
To fail to act.

Idiom(s):
sit pretty Informal
To be in a very favorable position.

Idiom(s):
sit tight Informal
To be patient and await the next move.

[Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

sit up
verb
1.	not go to bed; "Don't stay up so late--you have to go to work tomorrow"; "We sat up all night to watch the election" [syn: stay up]
2.	change to an upright sitting position; "He sat up in bed"

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