seat
seet
Seat (noun) means a piece of furniture or part of one designed for a person to sit on. Example: “Is this seat taken, or may I sit here?”
noun
1
A piece of furniture or part of one designed for a person to sit on.
"Is this seat taken, or may I sit here?"
"Please take a seat while you wait."
"The car has heated seats in the front."
2
A position or place, such as membership of a parliament, board, or committee.
"She gave up her seat on the board after ten years."
"She won a seat in the local council election."
"He has held his seat in parliament for over a decade."
verb
1
To cause someone to sit down, or to have space for a certain number of people to sit.
"The ushers will seat latecomers during the first interval."
"The waiter seated us near the window."
"The new stadium seats sixty thousand fans."
How to use seat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething to sit on, a position (like in government), or the act of sitting someone down / holding a certain number of people.
Common pairings
take a seat
a seat in parliament
seat capacity
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Word forms
- Plural
- seats
- Third person singular
- seats
- Past tense
- seated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Is this _____ taken, or may I sit here?
Etymology
From Old English "sǣte" and Old Norse "sæti," both going back to a very old root meaning "to sit."
Related words
Rhymes for seat
See all rhymes for seat →Frequently asked questions
What does “seat” mean?
The word “seat” means a piece of furniture or part of one designed for a person to sit on. In plain terms, something to sit on, a position (like in government), or the act of sitting someone down / holding a certain number of people.
How do you pronounce “seat”?
“Seat” is pronounced seet (/siːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “seat” in a sentence?
Here is “seat” used in a sentence: “Please take a seat while you wait.”
What part of speech is “seat”?
Depending on how it is used, “seat” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “seat” come from?
The word “seat” comes from Old English. From Old English "sǣte" and Old Norse "sæti," both going back to a very old root meaning "to sit.".
Is “seat” a common word?
“Seat” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “seat” have?
“Seat” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of furniture or part of one designed for a person to sit on.
What is the difference between a seat and a chair?
A chair is one specific kind of seat: a separate piece of furniture with a back and usually four legs, meant for one person. 'Seat' is the broader term for anything designed to sit on — including benches, stools, sofas, and car seats. Every chair is a seat, but not every seat is a chair.
What are the types of seats?
Seats come in many forms. Common examples include chairs, benches, stools, sofas, and armchairs for the home; car seats, aeroplane seats, and saddles for travel; and pews or stadium seating in public places. Any surface built to support a seated person counts as a seat.
What are other meanings of 'seat'?
Beyond furniture, seat has several senses. In politics it means an elected position, as in a seat in Parliament. It can name a centre of activity — a seat of learning or the seat of government. As a verb, to seat someone is to show them where to sit.
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