sit out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Mostly informal/neutral. 'Sit out' is common in everyday conversation, sports, and social contexts.
Quick answer
What does “sit out” mean?
To not participate in something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To not participate in something; to wait or remain inactive while something is happening.
To endure something unpleasant to its conclusion; to remain seated and not dance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both use it equally for sports (injuries), social situations (not dancing), and waiting.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects. Slight British tendency to use 'sit out' for enduring boring events (e.g., a long speech).
Frequency
Equally frequent in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “sit out” in a Sentence
[Subject] sits out [Object (e.g., a game)].[Subject] sits [Object (e.g., it)] out.[Subject] sits out.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sit out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to sit out the final episode of the series as it looked too scary.
- With her knee injury, she'll have to sit out Saturday's match.
American English
- The star player will sit out tonight's game with the flu.
- I'm tired, so I'll just sit out this dance.
adverb
British English
- No common adverbial use.
American English
- No common adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- A sit-out protest was organised in the town square.
- The balcony provides a lovely sit-out area.
American English
- The porch is our favorite sit-out spot in the summer.
- They built a sit-out deck at the back of the house.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"I think I'll sit out the next round of investments until the market stabilises."
Academic
"Several countries chose to sit out the initial phase of the international treaty negotiations."
Everyday
"My ankle's sore, so I'm going to sit out the next game."
Technical
"The quarterback was forced to sit out the second half due to a concussion protocol."
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sit out”
- Incorrect: *I sat out the rain in a cafe. (Correct: I waited out the rain).
- Incorrect word order: *I sat the game out it. (Correct: I sat it out / I sat the game out.)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say "sit the game out" or "sit out the game." With pronouns, you must separate: "sit it out."
'Skip' is more casual and often implies avoiding something you find boring or unnecessary. 'Sit out' often implies a reason (injury, strategy) and can carry a sense of enduring something you're present for.
No, that would be "sit outside." "Sit out" is an idiomatic phrasal verb meaning to not participate.
Only as a compound noun or adjective, e.g., "a sit-out area," "a sit-out protest." The verb form is never hyphenated.
To not participate in something.
Sit out is usually mostly informal/neutral. 'sit out' is common in everyday conversation, sports, and social contexts. in register.
Sit out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪt ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪt ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sit this one out”
- “Sit out the storm”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture someone SITTING on the bench OUTside the playing field, watching but not joining in.
Conceptual Metaphor
NON-PARTICIPATION IS PHYSICAL REMOVAL (sitting outside the action). ENDURANCE IS IMMOBILE PERSISTENCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sit out' LEAST appropriate?