gerund or present participle
It describes being in a position with your bottom supported by a chair, the floor, or another surface.
She was sitting by the window.
The cat was sitting in the window.
American English
How to pronounce sitting
verb · noun · adjectiveA1Very common word
SIHdihng
/ˈsɪ.ɾɪŋ/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of sit
It describes being in a position with your bottom supported by a chair, the floor, or another surface.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
gerund or present participle
It describes moving your body into a seated position.
She was sitting down when the phone rang.
The children are sitting down for dinner.
gerund or present participle
It describes being in a particular place or position, especially as if fixed there.
The book was sitting on the shelf.
A small statue is sitting on the table.
gerund or present participle
It describes being an official member of a group that makes decisions or judges a case.
She is sitting on the school board.
He is sitting on the jury.
Useful expressions
to move into a sitting position
Please sit down here.
to move into a straighter, more upright sitting position
Sit up straight.
to stay where you are and wait
Sit tight while I check the schedule.
Related words & forms
Use sat for both the past form and the form after have. Double the final t before -ing: sitting.