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
1
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?"
2
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- babysits
- Past tense
- babysat, babysitted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ for the neighbors most Saturday nights.
Etymology
Formed by dropping "-ter" from "babysitter."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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.
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