sit-up

1 of 2

noun

: a conditioning exercise performed from a supine position by raising the torso to a sitting position and returning to the original position without using the arms or lifting the feet

sit up

2 of 2

verb

sat up; sitting up; sits up

intransitive verb

1
a
: to rise from a lying to a sitting position
b
: to sit with the back erect
2
: to show interest, alertness, or surprise
sit up and take notice
3
: to stay up after the usual time for going to bed

Examples of sit-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With the Olympics in mind, van Gorp is breaking for up to two and a half hours each day, plus gym sessions and calisthenics – body-weight strength training like push-ups and sit-ups – in pursuit of winning gold. George Ramsay, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Each big 3 exercise is performed as follows: The curl-up looks like a sit-up, but different in that one leg remains bent at the knee (with the foot of that leg flat against the ground and the other leg straight) with your hands under your lower back to provide support. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024 In the video, Olympia (wearing a ruffled red dress) carefully lifts her baby sister (in holiday jammies) from the ground and lowers her back down, holding her hands the whole time — for a sweet version of baby sit-ups. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023 Exercises like push-ups, squats, sit-ups, lunges, and planks can improve muscle endurance. Jenny McCoy, Health, 4 Dec. 2023 Every night a family member had to remain awake to monitor David, who would jerk into 30-minute frenzies of rapid sit-ups. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 18 Oct. 2023 The moves included throwing punches while doing sit-ups, sparring at a fierce pace, dodging punches, and kicking her sparring partner in the abs. Korin Miller, Women's Health, 7 Sep. 2023 For sit-ups, male officers must do 37 in one minute and female officers 31. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023 Sweating from push-ups, sit-ups and using a rowing machine is one thing, but a session at Hotworx is something else again. Linda Gandee, cleveland, 25 July 2023
Verb
Isabella was six months old when the bodies were found, able to sit up on her own in a tottering way. Fiona McFarlane, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Cure can be seen sitting up at times and flailing his arms. Steve Almasy, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 In addition to showing off tricks like barking on command and sitting up on his hind legs, Messi was being asked to recreate his iconic playing dead scene from the movie. Jenelle Riley, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 His car then was an old Volkswagen Beetle with no rear seat, and Rich always sat up front next to Brent, leaving Irene to squat in the back on the seat frame as Brent drove faster and faster along hilly back roads. David Finkel, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2024 His accuracy would’ve made an atomic clock sit up and say: Wow, that dude is on point. Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 2 Jan. 2024 His coziness with Moscow, especially, made the United States sit up, convincing much of Washington that the United States must keep Cairo close to counter Russian influence. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2023 Not even the Scout seemed bothered, sitting up tall in his chair with his hands folded neatly in his lap. Hazlitt, 24 Jan. 2024 Hendrickson sat up on the sofa and, with knees wide, planted his elbows on his legs. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sit-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1900, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sit-up was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near sit-up

Cite this Entry

“Sit-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit-up. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sit-up

noun
ˈsit-ˌəp
: an exercise done by lying on the back and rising up to a sitting position by bending forward at the waist without lifting the feet and returning to the original position
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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