noun
Very common
sitting
SIH-tihng
Sitting (noun) means a period of time spent seated doing a particular activity, often in one continuous stretch. Example: “We watched the whole series in a single sitting last weekend.”
noun
1
A period of time spent seated doing a particular activity, often in one continuous stretch.
"We watched the whole series in a single sitting last weekend."
"She read the whole book in one sitting."
"The portrait required several sittings to complete."
2
A formal session of a court, parliament, or similar body.
"The tribunal's next sitting will take place on Tuesday morning."
"During the sitting, the judge asked the lawyers several sharp questions."
"Parliament resumed sitting after the summer recess."
adj
1
Currently holding an official position.
"The sitting mayor opened the new library this morning."
"A sitting member of the committee must declare any conflict of interest."
"The sitting president faces a tough re-election campaign."
How to use sitting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA continuous stretch of time doing something seated, a formal meeting session, or (as an adjective) currently in office.
Common pairings
in one sitting
sitting MP
sitting tenant
sitting president
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Word forms
- Plural
- sittings
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We watched the whole series in a single _____ last weekend.
Etymology
From "sit" plus the suffix "-ing."
Related words
Rhymes for sitting
fitting
hitting
pitting
knitting
shitting
quitting
spitting
flitting
slitting
admitting
befitting
unwitting
See all rhymes for sitting →
Frequently asked questions
What does “sitting” mean?
The word “sitting” means a period of time spent seated doing a particular activity, often in one continuous stretch. In plain terms, a continuous stretch of time doing something seated, a formal meeting session, or (as an adjective) currently in office.
How do you pronounce “sitting”?
“Sitting” is pronounced SIH-tihng (/ˈsɪtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sitting” in a sentence?
Here is “sitting” used in a sentence: “She read the whole book in one sitting.”
What part of speech is “sitting”?
Depending on how it is used, “sitting” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “sitting” a common word?
“Sitting” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sitting” have?
“Sitting” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a period of time spent seated doing a particular activity, often in one continuous stretch.
What does 'in one sitting' mean?
'In one sitting' means completing something in a single, continuous session without stopping — for example, reading a whole book or finishing a task in one go. It emphasises that the activity was done straight through, in an unbroken stretch, rather than spread across several separate occasions.
What is a portrait sitting?
A portrait sitting is a session in which a person poses for an artist or photographer while their likeness is captured. Traditional painted portraits often required several sittings over days or weeks, each one a fixed period of the subject staying still for the artist.
What is the difference between a sitting and a session?
The two words often overlap, and both mean a period spent on one activity. 'Sitting' stresses one continuous, unbroken stretch, often literally seated, while 'session' is broader and can span breaks or recurring meetings. You read a book in one sitting but attend a training session.
What is a sitting in parliament?
In government, a sitting is a single occasion on which a parliament or assembly meets to conduct business, from when it convenes until it adjourns. A day's proceedings are often called that day's sitting, and a longer run of these makes up a parliamentary session.
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