verb B1 Intermediate

babysit

BAY-bee-siht

Babysit (verb) means to look after someone else's child temporarily, often in exchange for pay. Example: “She babysits for the neighbors most Saturday nights.”

verb

To look after someone else's child temporarily, often in exchange for pay.

"She babysits for the neighbors most Saturday nights."

"Can you babysit the twins while we're at dinner?"

To keep an eye on a process, machine, or task in case something goes wrong.

"IT had to babysit the server migration all weekend."

How to Use Babysit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo take care of someone's child for a while, or more loosely, to closely monitor something so it doesn't go wrong.

Common pairings

babysit for someone babysit the kids

Word Forms

babysat past tense, babysitted past tense, babysits singular

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She _____ for the neighbors most Saturday nights.

Etymology

Formed by dropping "-ter" from "babysitter."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “babysit” mean?

The word “babysit” means to look after someone else's child temporarily, often in exchange for pay. In plain terms, to take care of someone's child for a while, or more loosely, to closely monitor something so it doesn't go wrong.

How do you pronounce “babysit”?

“Babysit” is pronounced BAY-bee-siht (/ˈbeɪ.bi.sɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “babysit” in a sentence?

Here is “babysit” used in a sentence: “She babysits for the neighbors most Saturday nights.”

What part of speech is “babysit”?

“Babysit” is a verb.

How many meanings does “babysit” have?

“Babysit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to look after someone else's child temporarily, often in exchange for pay.