1 B2 idiomatic neutral
to stay awake with someone during the night, especially because they are ill, upset, or in need of care
"His sister sat up with him until the fever finally dropped."
inseparable
sit up with
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
to stay awake late at night with someone, especially to care for them
In plain English
to stay up at night with someone so they are not alone
What does "sit up with" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to remain sitting awake with someone
Actually means
to stay up at night with someone so they are not alone
Usage tip
Often used in illness or family-care situations. Slightly old-fashioned but still understood and used.
Words that pair with "sit up with"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
patient child mother bedside all night the sick
How to conjugate "sit up with"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sit up with
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sits up with
he/she/it
Past simple
sat up with
yesterday
Past participle
sat up with
have + pp
-ing form
sitting up with
continuous
Hear "sit up with" in the wild
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Other ways to say "sit up with"
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