Collocations for sit - verb
1. on a chair, etc.
ADVERB
motionless,
still
Just sit still!
Just sit still!
quietly
He would sit quietly and watch what was happening.
He would sit quietly and watch what was happening.
in silence,
silently
We sat in silence for a few moments.
We sat in silence for a few moments.
calmly,
patiently
just, merely, simply
She just sat there staring into space.
He simply sat there not speaking.
just, merely, simply
She just sat there staring into space.
He simply sat there not speaking.
comfortably,
uncomfortably
cross-legged, Indian-style (AmE), with your legs crossed
The children sat cross-legged on the floor.
She was sitting in her chair with her legs crossed.
cross-legged, Indian-style (AmE), with your legs crossed
The children sat cross-legged on the floor.
She was sitting in her chair with her legs crossed.
sideways
bolt upright, erect, straight, upright
He sat bolt upright, hands folded in front of him.
bolt upright, erect, straight, upright
He sat bolt upright, hands folded in front of him.
awkwardly,
demurely,
primly,
stiffly
She sat primly on the edge of her chair.
She sat primly on the edge of her chair.
proudly
happily
Elmer was happily sitting in his high chair.
happily
Elmer was happily sitting in his high chair.
down
Please sit down and let me talk to you.
Please sit down and let me talk to you.
back
Joan sat back in her chair.
Just sit back and enjoy the show.
Joan sat back in her chair.
Just sit back and enjoy the show.
around
I hate to be sitting around doing nothing.
I hate to be sitting around doing nothing.
side by side,
together
alone
alone
VERB + sit
let sb
Surely someone would stand up and let her sit down?
Surely someone would stand up and let her sit down?
gesture for sb to,
gesture to sb to,
motion sb to,
motion for sb to,
motion to sb to
He motioned the young officer to sit down.
He motioned the young officer to sit down.
PREPOSITION
against
He was sitting against the wall.
He was sitting against the wall.
around
The kids sat around a campfire.
The kids sat around a campfire.
astride
She was sitting astride a horse.
She was sitting astride a horse.
at
We sat at a table in the corner.
We sat at a table in the corner.
behind
The manager sat behind his desk.
The manager sat behind his desk.
beside
She went and sat beside him.
She went and sat beside him.
in
He sat back in his chair and started to read.
He sat back in his chair and started to read.
on
Can I sit on this chair?
Can I sit on this chair?
opposite
They sat opposite each other.
They sat opposite each other.
under
She sat under an apple tree.
She sat under an apple tree.
PHRASES
a place to sit
Ann found a place to sit.
Ann found a place to sit.
sit down (with sb)
I recently had a chance to sit down with Britain's Foreign Secretary.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Britain's Foreign Secretary.
sit and …,
sit back and …,
sit idly by and …
(figurative)
How can you sit back and watch him suffer?
We can't sit idly by and let this happen.
How can you sit back and watch him suffer?
We can't sit idly by and let this happen.
2. seem right/not seem right
ADVERB
comfortably (esp. BrE),
easily (esp. BrE),
happily,
nicely,
well
uneasily (esp. BrE)
uneasily (esp. BrE)
sit up - PHRASAL VERB
ADVERB
abruptly,
quickly,
suddenly
immediately
slowly
She slowly sat up and looked around.
immediately
slowly
She slowly sat up and looked around.
straight
PHRASES
sit up and take notice
(figurative)
Their actions have forced us to sit up and take notice.
Their actions have forced us to sit up and take notice.
Sit is used with these nouns as the subject:
building, judge, magistrate, parliament
building, judge, magistrate, parliament
Sit is used with these nouns as the object:
A level, exam, examination, final, paper, practical, test
A level, exam, examination, final, paper, practical, test