sit down
A2 neutral inseparable both
In simple words
to put your body on a chair, or to meet and talk calmly
Meanings
1 A2 neutral
to move from standing to a seated position
"Please sit down and make yourself comfortable."
"Sit down before fact as a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion."
— T. H. Huxley, 'On the Advisableness of Improving Natural Knowledge'
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1
idiomatic
neutral
to meet in order to talk seriously or deal with something
"We need to sit down and discuss the budget this afternoon."
"It's time for us to sit down and talk seriously about the future."
— Paraphrased public-political formula; exact famous source not recalled
Grammar: inseparable
3 A2 neutral
to start eating a meal at the table
"As soon as everyone arrived, we sat down to dinner."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Very common everyday phrasal verb. Also used before meals, classes, and discussions.
Commonly used with
chair table meeting talk meal discussion
Forms
Base
sit down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sits down
he/she/it
Past simple
sat down
yesterday
Past participle
sat down
have + pp
-ing form
sitting down
continuous
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Synonyms
take a seat be seated meet talk have a discussion
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