1. (of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
   "the sitting Madonna";
   - seated
    
2. Not moving and therefore easy to attack
   "a sitting target"
    
3. Currently holding an office
   "the sitting governor";
   - incumbent

1. The act of assuming or maintaining a seated position
   "he read the mystery at one sitting"
    
2. (photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
   "he wanted his portrait painted but couldn't spare time for the sitting";
   - posing
    
3. A session as of a legislature or court
   "The parliament held an emergency sitting to address the crisis"
    
4. A meeting of spiritualists where they try to make contact with the dead
   "the sitting was held in the medium's parlour";
   - seance, session, séance, sesh [informal]

1. Be in a position in which one's upper body is largely upright and supported by one's backside
   "He sat in the armchair to read"; "She sat down at her desk to work";
   - sit down
    
2. Take a seat
   "Please sit down while you wait"; "The students sat at their desks";
   - sit down
    
3. Be in session
   "When does the court of law sit?"
    
4. Be around, often idly or without specific purpose
   "The object sat in the corner"; "We sat around chatting for another hour";
   - sit around [informal]
    
5. Sit and travel on the back of an animal, usually while controlling its motion
   "She never sat a horse!";
   - ride
    
6. Be located or situated somewhere
   "The White House sits on Pennsylvania Avenue"
    
7. Work or act as a baby-sitter
   "I cannot baby-sit tonight: I have too much homework to do";
   - baby-sit, babysit
    
8. Serve in a specific professional capacity
   "the priest sat for confession"; "she sat on the jury"
    
9. Assume a posture as for artistic purposes
   "We don't know the woman who sat for Leonardo so often";
   - model, pose, posture [archaic]
    
10. Show to a seat; assign a seat for
    "The host sat me next to Mrs. Smith";
    - seat, sit down
     
11. [Brit] Take an examination
    "She's sitting her final exams next week"

Derived forms: sittings

See also: current, nonmoving, sit out, unmoving

Type of: be, change posture, convene, display, exhibit, expose, get-together, go, guard, lay, locomote, meeting, motility, motion, move, movement, place, pose, position, put, rest, serve, sesh [informal], session, set, travel

Antonym: arise, lie, stand

Encyclopedia: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing