sit down

Short definition: The phrase sit down means to move into a seated position from standing, or to meet with someone for a discussion, depending on context.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrasal verb sit down? This is a very common expression in everyday English and it usually refers to the simple action of lowering yourself into a seated position. However, it can also describe starting a serious conversation, gathering people to discuss something important, or beginning focused work on a task. Because it appears in casual talk, professional settings, and social situations, the exact meaning depends on context. Below are detailed meanings with realistic examples so you can clearly understand how sit down works in daily English.

sit down v. /ˌsɪt ˈdaʊn/

Forms: sit down, sits down, sat down, sitting down
Related: sit v., seat v., meeting n., discussion n.
Syllable: sit-down

  1. (Verb) To move into a seated position.

    To sit down most commonly means lowering your body so that you are resting on a chair, bench, or another surface in a seated position.

    Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.
    He sat down after standing for hours.
    The teacher asked everyone to sit down before starting the lesson.

    Synonyms: take a seat, be seated, settle into a chair, sit, lower oneself, sit comfortably, rest on a seat, seat oneself, perch, relax into a seat, drop into a chair, place oneself down
    Antonyms: stand up, rise, get up, remain standing, straighten up, lift oneself, stand tall, jump up, stay upright, move to standing, remain on feet, stand still

  2. (Verb) To begin a conversation or discussion seriously.

    Sit down can also mean gathering together to have a serious or focused conversation, especially when people want to resolve a problem or discuss something important.

    We need to sit down and talk about the future of the project.
    They finally sat down together to solve their disagreement calmly.
    The manager asked the team to sit down and discuss the new strategy.

    Synonyms: discuss seriously, hold a meeting, talk things through, deliberate, confer, negotiate, consult together, talk calmly, review situation, address issue, open discussion, work things out
    Antonyms: avoid discussion, ignore issue, walk away, refuse to talk, dismiss conversation, evade topic, argue loudly, escalate conflict, reject dialogue, shut down communication, remain silent, ignore problem

  3. (Verb) To begin working on something with focus and attention.

    In another sense, sit down can mean starting a task that requires attention, concentration, or effort, such as writing, studying, or planning something carefully.

    I need to sit down and finish this report tonight.
    She finally sat down to organize her finances.
    Let’s sit down and plan the trip properly.

    Synonyms: focus on, start working, begin task, concentrate, settle to work, apply oneself, get to work, tackle task, dedicate time, commit attention, begin effort, organize work
    Antonyms: procrastinate, delay work, avoid task, put off work, ignore responsibility, abandon effort, stall, postpone, waste time, neglect duty, drift away, stop working

Conversation Using the Phrasal Verb Sit down

During a family dinner gathering, Arthur and Beatrice are inviting guests to the table. This conversation highlights sit down, which means to move from a standing position to a sitting one, or to have a formal discussion about something.

Arthur: Dinner is ready, so please everyone sit down at the table and help yourselves to the salad while I bring out the main course.

Beatrice: I’ll sit down here next to the window; I noticed that the garden looks particularly beautiful in the soft evening light tonight.

Arthur: I read that the two opposing world leaders finally agreed to sit down and discuss a potential peace treaty for the first time in years.

Beatrice: I noticed that the teacher told the noisy students to sit down and be quiet so she could begin the important science lesson.

Arthur: If you sit down and plan your weekly budget carefully, you’ll find it much easier to save money for your upcoming summer vacation.

Beatrice: I saw a tired traveler sit down on his suitcase at the airport while he waited for his delayed flight to finally be announced.

Arthur: It’s a good habit to sit down and eat a proper breakfast every morning rather than just grabbing a quick coffee on your way to work.

Beatrice: I agree; I’m going to sit down with my manager tomorrow to talk about my career development and the possibility of a promotion.

Arthur: I’m glad we can all sit down together tonight; it’s rare that the whole family is in the same city and has the same free evening.

Beatrice: Me too; once we sit down and enjoy this meal, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of wonderful stories to share with each other until late.

Phrases Containing the Phrasal Verb Sit Down

The phrases below show how the phrasal verb sit down is used to talk about taking a seat or having a serious discussion.

Sit down and relax

To take a seat and rest.

After a long day at work, she sat down and relaxed with a cup of tea.

Sit down together

To take seats as a group.

Let’s sit down together and talk about how we can solve this issue calmly.

Sit down for dinner

To gather and eat.

The family sat down for dinner and shared stories about their day.

Sit down and talk

To discuss something seriously.

We need to sit down and talk before making any final decisions.

Sit down quietly

To take a seat calmly.

The teacher asked the students to sit down quietly before starting the lesson.

Sit down at the table

To take a seat at a table.

Please sit down at the table so we can begin the meeting.

Sit down for a moment

To rest briefly.

Why don’t you sit down for a moment and catch your breath?

Sit down and listen

To take a seat and pay attention.

The manager asked everyone to sit down and listen carefully to the announcement.

Sit down with someone

To meet and discuss face-to-face.

She sat down with her mentor to discuss career goals and future plans.

Sit down to study

To take a seat and begin learning.

He sat down to study early in the morning when the house was quiet.

Sit down and reflect

To think carefully.

It’s important to sit down and reflect on your achievements and challenges.

Sit down comfortably

To take a relaxed seat.

Please sit down comfortably while we prepare the presentation.

Sit down and negotiate

To discuss terms formally.

The two parties agreed to sit down and negotiate a fair agreement.

Sit down for coffee

To share a drink together.

They decided to sit down for coffee and catch up after years apart.

Sit down and plan

To organize ideas while seated.

We need to sit down and plan our strategy carefully before launching.

Sit down with family

To gather and spend time.

Every weekend, they sit down with family to enjoy a peaceful meal.

Sit down in silence

To take a seat quietly.

He sat down in silence, thinking about the conversation that had just ended.

Sit down and focus

To concentrate seriously.

If you want to finish the report, you need to sit down and focus without distractions.

Sit down for a meeting

To gather formally.

The board members sat down for a meeting to review the annual results.

Sit down and explain

To clarify something carefully.

Let’s sit down and explain the situation clearly so everyone understands.

Words Rhyme with sit down

fit town
bit clown
hit brown
kit frown
lit crown
pit gown
quit noun
wit renown
split down
knit town
down
town
clown
brown
frown
crown
gown
noun
renown
updown
countdown
downtown
uptown
sundown
lowdown
showdown
meltdown
cooldown
nightgown
touchdown
POS: Verb Phrase