squat
B1Neutral in most contexts; informal when describing short/stout objects.
Definition
Meaning
To crouch or sit with the knees bent and the heels close to or touching the buttocks; to occupy a building or land without permission.
Used in weightlifting to describe a strength exercise where one lowers the body from a standing position by bending the knees and hips, then returns to standing; figuratively, to settle or reside somewhere; also, short and thick in shape.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans domains of physical movement, property law, strength training, and descriptive morphology, making it polysemous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. In property law, both use 'squatter'/'squatting'. Possibly more frequent in US for the weightlifting exercise.
Connotations
Similar negative connotation for illegal occupation; neutral for exercise.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English due to popularity of fitness culture ('do squats').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
squat (down)squat on somethingsquat in somethingsquat (something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “squat thrust (exercise)”
- “not a/squat (slang for 'nothing')”
- “squat on one's heels”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in property/real estate contexts discussing illegal occupation.
Academic
Used in law, urban studies, and sports science literature.
Everyday
Common for describing sitting low, exercises, or short objects.
Technical
Specific term in weightlifting with defined form standards.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The children were told to squat while waiting for the race to start.
- Protesters have begun to squat in the abandoned factory.
American English
- You should squat lower to improve your form.
- They tried to squat in the foreclosed house.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat squats before it jumps.
- She squatted to pick up the toy.
- He does 20 squats every morning as part of his workout.
- They found a squat and decided to live there temporarily.
- Squatting in unoccupied buildings has become a significant urban issue.
- Her squat form made her ideal for the position of rugby prop.
- The athlete's ability to back squat over 200 kg was remarkable.
- The legal framework surrounding adverse possession is distinct from mere squatting.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SQUAT: S (sit) QU (quickly) A (and) T (tightly) – to sit down quickly and tightly in a low position.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGAL OCCUPATION IS LOW PHYSICAL POSITION (squatting in a building); LACK OF VALUE IS LOW POSITION ('not worth squat').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'скват' (not a word). The noun 'squat' (exercise) is not 'присед' in all contexts (more often 'приседание'). 'Squat' as 'ничего' (slang) is false friend.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'squat' as a regular verb without 'down' ('He squatted' vs. 'He squatted down'). Overusing 'squat' for any bend. Incorrect prepositions ('squat at a building' instead of 'in').
Practice
Quiz
In fitness context, 'squat' primarily refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be a noun (e.g., 'do ten squats', 'live in a squat'), an adjective (a squat tower), and less commonly an adverb.
'Squat' often implies the heels are down and the position is more settled; 'crouch' is more on the balls of the feet and is often a preparatory or temporary stance.
Laws vary by country and jurisdiction. In some places, squatting in residential property is a criminal offense; in others, it may be a civil matter, and some jurisdictions have laws protecting squatters' rights under certain conditions.
In informal American slang, 'squat' or 'diddly-squat' means 'nothing at all' (e.g., 'He knows squat about computers').