Seat vs. Sit: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
"Seat" refers to a place to sit or the act of placing someone, while "Sit" is a verb indicating the action of resting on a seat.
Key Differences
At the core of their definitions, "Seat" and "Sit" are intrinsically linked, yet distinct in function and usage. "Seat" can act as a noun referring to a place where one might sit, like a chair or bench. Conversely, "Sit" operates as a verb, pointing to the action of being seated or resting in a position.
Dive deeper, and you'll uncover the versatility of "Seat". Beyond being a mere object, it can also signify the act of placing someone in a specific spot. For example, a host might seat a guest at a dinner table. Meanwhile, "Sit" remains committed to the act itself, showcasing various states of repose or positioning.
"Seat" also branches into more metaphorical territories. For instance, a "seat of power" doesn't allude to a physical chair but a position of authority. On the other hand, "Sit" can convey duration or position, such as when something "sits well" with someone or how a building "sits atop" a hill.
Grammar further differentiates these words. "Seat" can manifest as both a noun and a verb, depending on context. Contrastingly, "Sit" is predominantly a verb, though it does have noun forms in specific contexts, like a "sit-in."
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Primarily a noun; can be a verb
Primarily a verb
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Definition
A place to sit or the act of placing someone
The action of resting on a seat
Extended Use
Can refer to positions of power or importance (e.g., "seat of power")
Can denote position or duration (e.g., "sit tight")
Form Variations
Seating, seated
Sitting, sat
Metaphoric Use
Yes, as in "seat of government"
Yes, as in "doesn't sit well with me"
Seat and Sit Definitions
Seat
The act of placing someone on a seat
He will seat you now.
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Sit
To rest with the body supported by the buttocks
Please sit here.
Seat
A position of authority or centrality
This city is the seat of the government.
Sit
To pose for a portrait or photograph
He sat for a famous artist.
Seat
A part on which another part rests
The seat of the valve needs adjustment.
Sit
To rest with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks.
Seat
Something, such as a chair or bench, that may be sat on
There are comfortable seats in the waiting room.
Sit
To rest with the hindquarters lowered onto a supporting surface. Used of animals.
Seat
The part on which one rests in sitting
The seat of a chair.
A bicycle seat.
Sit
To perch. Used of birds.
Seat
A place in which one may sit
Found a seat on the floor.
Sit
To cover eggs for hatching; brood.
Seat
The right to occupy such a place or a ticket indicating this right
Got seats for the concert.
Sit
To be situated or located
A house that sits on a hill.
Seat
The buttocks.
Sit
To lie or rest
Dishes were sitting on a shelf. See Usage Note at set1.
Seat
The part of a garment that covers the buttocks.
Sit
To pose for an artist or photographer.
Seat
A part serving as the base of something else.
Sit
To occupy a seat as a member of a body of officials
Sit in Congress.
Seat
The surface or part on which another part sits or rests.
Sit
To be in session.
Seat
The place where something is located or based
The heart is the seat of the emotions.
Sit
To remain inactive or unused
Her expensive skis sat gathering dust.
Seat
A center of authority; a capital
The county seat.
Sit
To affect one with or as if with a burden; weigh
Official duties sat heavily upon the governor.
Seat
A place of abode or residence, especially a large house that is part of an estate
The squire's country seat.
Sit
To fit, fall, or drape in a specified manner
The jacket sits perfectly on you.
Seat
Membership in an organization, such as a legislative body or stock exchange, that is obtained by appointment, election, or purchase.
Sit
To be agreeable to one; please
The idea didn't sit well with any of us.
Seat
The manner of sitting on a horse
A rider with a good seat.
Sit
Chiefly British To take an examination, as for a degree.
Seat
To place in or on a seat.
Sit
To blow from a particular direction. Used of the wind.
Seat
To cause or assist to sit down
The ushers will seat the members of the bride's family.
Sit
To keep watch or take care of a child.
Seat
To provide with a particular seat
The usher seated me in the back row.
Sit
To cause to sit; seat
Sit yourself over there.
Seat
To have or provide seats for
We can seat 300 in the auditorium.
Sit
To keep one's seat on (an animal)
She sits her horse well.
Seat
To install in a position of authority or eminence.
Sit
To sit on (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
Seat
To fix firmly in place
Seat an ammunition clip in an automatic rifle.
Sit
To provide seating accommodation for
A theater that sits 1,000 people.
Seat
To rest on or fit into another part
The O-rings had not seated correctly in their grooves.
Sit
The act of sitting.
Seat
Something to be sat upon.
Sit
A period of time spent sitting.
Seat
A place in which to sit.
There are two hundred seats in this classroom.
Sit
The way in which an article of clothing, such as a dress or jacket, fits.
Seat
The horizontal portion of a chair or other furniture designed for sitting.
He sat on the arm of the chair rather than the seat, which always annoyed his mother.
The seat of a saddle
Sit
To be in a position in which the upper body is upright and supported by the buttocks.
After a long day of walking, it was good just to sit and relax.
Seat
A piece of furniture made for sitting; e.g. a chair, stool or bench; any improvised place for sitting.
She pulled the seat from under the table to allow him to sit down.
Sit
To move oneself into such a position.
I asked him to sit.
Seat
The part of an object or individual (usually the buttocks) directly involved in sitting.
Instead of saying "sit down", she said "place your seat on this chair".
Sit
To occupy a given position.
The temple has sat atop that hill for centuries.
Jim's pet parrot sat on his left shoulder.
Seat
The part of a piece of clothing (usually pants or trousers) covering the buttocks.
The seat of these trousers is almost worn through.
Sit
To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition.
Seat
(engineering) A part or surface on which another part or surface rests.
The seat of the valve had become corroded.
Sit
(government) To be a member of a deliberative body.
I currently sit on a standards committee.
Seat
A location or site.
Sit
Of a legislative or, especially, a judicial body such as a court, to be in session.
In what city is the circuit court sitting for this session.
Seat
(figurative) A membership in an organization, particularly a representative body.
Our neighbor has a seat at the stock exchange and in congress.
Sit
To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh.
Seat
The location of a governing body.
Washington D.C. is the seat of the U.S. government.
Sit
To be adjusted; to fit.
Your new coat sits well.
Seat
(certain Commonwealth countries) An electoral district, especially for a national legislature.
Sit
To be accepted or acceptable; to work.
How will this new contract sit with the workers?
I don’t think it will sit well.
The violence in these video games sits awkwardly with their stated aim of educating children.
Seat
A temporary residence, such as a country home or a hunting lodge.
Sit
To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to.
Sit him in front of the TV and he might watch for hours.
Seat
The place occupied by anything, or where any person, thing or quality is situated or resides; a site.
Sit
(transitive) To accommodate in seats; to seat.
The dining room table sits eight comfortably.
Seat
One of a series of departmental placements given to a trainee solicitor as part of their training contract.
Sit
To babysit.
I'm going to sit for them on Thursday.
I need to find someone to sit my kids on Friday evening for four hours.
Seat
(historical) Any of several autonomous regions in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary.
Sit
To take, to undergo or complete (an examination or test).
Seat
The starting point of a fire.
Sit
To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate.
Seat
Posture, or way of sitting, on horseback.
Sit
To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of oneself made, such as a picture or a bust.
I'm sitting for a painter this evening.
Seat
(transitive) To put an object into a place where it will rest; to fix; to set firm.
Be sure to seat the gasket properly before attaching the cover.
Sit
To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction.
Seat
(transitive) To provide with a place to sit.
This classroom seats two hundred students.
The waiter seated us and asked what we would like to drink.
Sit
To keep one's seat when faced with (a blow, attack); to endure, to put up with.
Seat
(transitive) To request or direct one or more persons to sit.
Please seat the audience after the anthem and then introduce the first speaker.
Sit
(mining) Subsidence of the roof of a coal mine.
Seat
To recognize the standing of a person or persons by providing them with one or more seats which would allow them to participate fully in a meeting or session.
Only half the delegates from the state were seated at the convention because the state held its primary too early.
You have to be a member to be seated at the meeting. Guests are welcome to sit in the visitors section.
Sit
An event, usually lasting one full day or more, where the primary goal is to sit in meditation.
Seat
(transitive) To assign the seats of.
To seat a church
Sit
To rest upon the haunches, or the lower extremity of the trunk of the body; - said of human beings, and sometimes of other animals; as, to sit on a sofa, on a chair, or on the ground.
And he came and took the book put of the right hand of him that sate upon the seat.
I pray you, jest, sir, as you sit at dinner.
Seat
(transitive) To cause to occupy a post, site, or situation; to station; to establish; to fix; to settle.
Sit
To perch; to rest with the feet drawn up, as birds do on a branch, pole, etc.
Seat
To rest; to lie down.
Sit
To remain in a state of repose; to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition.
And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
Like a demigod here sit I in the sky.
Seat
To settle; to plant with inhabitants.
To seat a country
Sit
To lie, rest, or bear; to press or weigh; - with on; as, a weight or burden sits lightly upon him.
The calamity sits heavy on us.
Seat
(transitive) To put a seat or bottom in.
To seat a chair
Sit
To be adjusted; to fit; as, a coat sts well or ill.
This new and gorgeous garment, majesty,Sits not so easy on me as you think.
Seat
The place or thing upon which one sits; hence; anything made to be sat in or upon, as a chair, bench, stool, saddle, or the like.
And Jesus . . . overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves.
Sit
To suit one well or ill, as an act; to become; to befit; - used impersonally.
Seat
The place occupied by anything, or where any person or thing is situated, resides, or abides; a site; an abode, a station; a post; a situation.
Where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is.
He that builds a fair house upon an ill seat committeth himself to prison.
A seat of plenty, content, and tranquillity.
Sit
To cover and warm eggs for hatching, as a fowl; to brood; to incubate.
As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not.
Seat
That part of a thing on which a person sits; as, the seat of a chair or saddle; the seat of a pair of pantaloons.
Sit
To have position, as at the point blown from; to hold a relative position; to have direction.
Like a good miller that knows how to grind, which way soever the wind sits.
Sits the wind in that quarter?
Seat
A sitting; a right to sit; regular or appropriate place of sitting; as, a seat in a church; a seat for the season in the opera house.
Sit
To occupy a place or seat as a member of an official body; as, to sit in Congress.
Seat
Posture, or way of sitting, on horseback.
She had so good a seat and hand she might be trusted with any mount.
Sit
To hold a session; to be in session for official business; - said of legislative assemblies, courts, etc.; as, the court sits in January; the aldermen sit to-night.
Seat
A part or surface on which another part or surface rests; as, a valve seat.
Sit
To take a position for the purpose of having some artistic representation of one's self made, as a picture or a bust; as, to sit to a painter.
Seat
To place on a seat; to cause to sit down; as, to seat one's self.
The guests were no sooner seated but they entered into a warm debate.
Sit
To sit upon; to keep one's seat upon; as, he sits a horse well.
Hardly the muse can sit the headstrong horse.
Seat
To cause to occupy a post, site, situation, or the like; to station; to establish; to fix; to settle.
Thus high . . . is King Richard seated.
They had seated themselves in New Guiana.
Sit
To cause to be seated or in a sitting posture; to furnish a seat to; - used reflexively.
They sat them down to weep.
Sit you down, father; rest you.
Seat
To assign a seat to, or the seats of; to give a sitting to; as, to seat a church, or persons in a church.
Sit
To suit (well or ill); to become.
Seat
To fix; to set firm.
From their foundations, loosening to and fro,They plucked the seated hills.
Sit
Be standing; be upright;
We had to stand for the entire performance!
Seat
To settle; to plant with inhabitants; as to seat a country.
Sit
Sit around, often unused;
The object sat in the corner
Seat
To put a seat or bottom in; as, to seat a chair.
Sit
Take a seat
Seat
To rest; to lie down.
Sit
Be in session;
When does the court of law sit?
Seat
A space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane);
He booked their seats in advance
He sat in someone else's place
Sit
Assume a posture as for artistic purposes;
We don't know the woman who posed for Leonardo so often
Seat
The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on;
He deserves a good kick in the butt
Are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?
Sit
Sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions;
She never sat a horse!
Did you ever ride a camel?
The girl liked to drive the young mare
Seat
Furniture that is designed for sitting on;
There were not enough seats for all the guests
Sit
Work or act as a baby-sitter;
I cannot baby-sit tonight; I have too much homework to do
Seat
Any support where you can sit (especially the part of a chair or bench etc. on which you sit);
He dusted off the seat before sitting down
Sit
Show to a seat; assign a seat for;
The host seated me next to Mrs. Smith
Seat
A center of authority (as a city from which authority is exercised)
Sit
To occupy a place as a member
She sits on three committees.
Seat
The cloth covering for the buttocks;
The seat of his pants was worn through
Sit
To affect one in a specified way
That news didn't sit well with him.
Seat
Show to a seat; assign a seat for;
The host seated me next to Mrs. Smith
Seat
Be able to seat;
The theater seats 2,000
Seat
Place ceremoniously or formally in an office or position;
There was a ceremony to induct the president of the Academy
Seat
Put a seat on a chair
Seat
Provide with seats;
Seat a concert hall
Seat
A place designed to sit on
She took a seat by the window.
Seat
A base or foundation for something
The seat of the problem lies deeper.
FAQs
Can "Seat" function as a verb?
Yes, as in "He seated her at the front."
Does "Seat" have metaphorical meanings?
Yes, for example, "seat of the government" meaning the center of power.
What's a "seatbelt"?
It's a safety strap in vehicles to secure passengers to their seats.
Is "Sit" used in expressions?
Absolutely, like "sit tight" or "sit out."
Can "Sit" mean to attend?
Yes, as in "sit a course" or "sit an exam."
Can animals "Sit"?
Certainly, like when you command a dog to "sit."
What's the past tense of "Sit"?
"Sat."
If a theater is full, does it have "no seats" or "no sits"?
It has "no seats."
Is "Sit" only about physical positioning?
No, it can be emotional too, like "something doesn't sit right with me."
Is "sit-down" related to "Sit"?
Yes, it's an adjective or noun referring to being seated, as in a "sit-down meal."
Can "Seat" refer to a representative's position?
Yes, as in "She won a seat in Congress."
What does "sit up" mean?
It means to rise to a sitting position.
Can "Sit" refer to position?
Yes, as in "The house sits on the edge of the cliff."
How is "Sit" used in protests?
In terms like "sit-in," where protesters sit to demonstrate.
What does "by a window seat" mean?
It refers to a seat next to a window, often in vehicles.
If you "seat" someone, what are you doing?
You're showing or placing them in a specific spot to sit.
Can "Seat" be related to location?
Yes, like "county seat" meaning a town where county government is based.
Does "Sit" have a continuous form?
Yes, "sitting."
Can you "seat" a valve in mechanics?
Yes, ensuring it fits correctly in its position.
What's a "window seat" in a home?
It's a bench or seating area built into a recessed window space.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
