15 English Phrasal Verbs With 'SIT'

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15 phrasal verbs with 'SIT'

Sit about

  1. Sit and do nothing, especially when you should be working
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We spent the afternoon SITTING ABOUT chatting instead of doing any work.

Sit around

  1. Sit idly, doing nothing
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: They just SAT AROUND while the others did all the work.

Sit back

  1. Wait for something to happen without making any effort
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We SAT BACK and waited for them to make the first mistake.
  2. Relax in a chair
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I SAT BACK and enjoyed the show.

Sit by

  1. Not try to stop something
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I can't SIT BY while they are punished wrongly.

Sit down

  1. Help someone to sit
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: The nurse SAT me DOWN in a chair.

Sit for

  1. Pose for an artist or photographer
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The Queen SAT FOR another official portrait.
  2. Look after children while their parents are out
    (Inseparable | American English)
    » Example: She SITS FOR her neighbors when they go out.

Sit in

  1. Occupy a building to protest about something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The students SAT IN the Library as a protest against the increase in tuition fees.

Sit in for

  1. Take on someone's responsibilities while they are absent
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Her deputy's SITTING IN FOR her while she's away.

Sit in on

  1. Attend as an observer
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She SAT IN ON the meeting and took notes but said nothing.

Sit on

  1. Be on a committee
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She's SAT ON the finance committee from the beginning.
  2. To handle somebody firmly who behaves impertinently, conceitedly
    (Inseparable | American English)
    » Example: If his girlfriend finds out, she'll get mad and SIT ON him.
  3. Hold information back or keep it secret
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The government have been SITTING ON the report because it was so critical.

Sit out

  1. Not take part
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: I had to SIT the game OUT because I was ill.

Sit over

  1. Eat or drink slowly
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: WE SAT OVER dinner discussing the plans.

Sit through

  1. Stay till the end of something dull
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I was bored and wanted to leave halfway through, but we SAT THROUGH the film.

Sit up

  1. Suddenly take notice or pay attention
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: They SAT UP when I told them I was closing the company.
  2. Move from lying down to a sitting position
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: She SAT UP in bed when the doctor wanted to take her temperature.

Sit with

  1. Reconcile different positions
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: It's hard to see how their new plan SITS WITH the promises they made.

Take our Exercise on 'SIT'

Quiz for Verb: 'To SIT'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Sit up' means...

'Sit on' means...

'Sit around' means...

'Sit in for' means...

'Sit about' means...

'Sit over' means...

'Sit back' means...

'Sit with' means...

'Sit by' means...

'Sit in' means...

 

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