seat
Americannoun
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seats
plural
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something designed to support a person in a sitting position, as a chair, bench, or pew; a place on or in which one sits.
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the part of a chair, sofa, or the like, on which one sits.
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the part of the body on which one sits; the buttocks.
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the part of the garment covering it.
the seat of one's pants.
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a manner of or posture used in sitting, as on a horse.
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something on which the base of an object rests.
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the base itself.
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a place in which something belongs, occurs, or is established; site; location.
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a place in which administrative power or the like is centered.
the seat of the government.
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a part of the body considered as the place in which an emotion or function is centered.
The heart is the seat of passion.
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the office or authority of a king, bishop, etc..
the episcopal seat.
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a space in which a spectator or patron may sit; accommodation for sitting, as in a theater or stadium.
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right of admittance to such a space, especially as indicated by a ticket.
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a right to sit as a member in a legislative or similar body.
to hold a seat in the senate.
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a right to the privileges of membership in a stock exchange or the like.
verb (used with object)
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seats,
present (3rd person singular)
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seated,
past participle, past
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seating
present participle
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to place on a seat or seats; cause to sit down.
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to usher to a seat or find a seat for.
to be seated in the front row.
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to have seats for; accommodate with seats.
a theater that seats 1200 people.
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to put a seat on or into (a chair, garment, etc.).
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to install in a position or office of authority, in a legislative body, etc.
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to fit (a valve) with a seat.
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to attach to or place firmly in or on something as a base.
Seat the telescope on the tripod.
verb (used without object)
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seats,
present (3rd person singular)
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seated,
past participle, past
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seating
present participle
idioms
noun
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a piece of furniture designed for sitting on, such as a chair or sofa
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the part of a chair, bench, etc, on which one sits
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a place to sit, esp one that requires a ticket
I have two seats for the film tonight
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the buttocks
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the part of a garment covering the buttocks
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the part or area serving as the base of an object
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the part or surface on which the base of an object rests
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the place or centre in which something is located
a seat of government
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a place of abode, esp a country mansion that is or was originally the chief residence of a family
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a membership or the right to membership in a legislative or similar body
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a parliamentary constituency
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membership in a stock exchange
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the manner in which a rider sits on a horse
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by instinct rather than knowledge or experience
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informal (of officials) in the office rather than on tour or on leave
the agricultural advisor will be on seat tomorrow
verb
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(tr) to bring to or place on a seat; cause to sit down
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(tr) to provide with seats
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(tr; often passive) to place or centre
the ministry is seated in the capital
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(tr) to set firmly in place
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(tr) to fix or install in a position of power
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(tr) to put a seat on or in (an item of furniture, garment, etc)
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(intr) (of garments) to sag in the area covering the buttocks
your thin skirt has seated badly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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seaternoun
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misseatverb (used with object)
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seatlessadjective
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underseatedadjective
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well-seatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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seatsimple
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seatssimple
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have seatedperfect
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has seatedperfect
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am seatingprogressive
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are seatingprogressive
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is seatingprogressive
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have been seatingperfect progressive
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has been seatingperfect progressive
Past
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seatedsimple
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had seatedperfect
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was seatingprogressive
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were seatingprogressive
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had been seatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of seat
1150–1200; Middle English sete (noun) < Old Norse sæti
Explanation
Something you can sit on, especially if it's a bench, stool, sofa, or chair, is a seat. Most bicycles have one seat, while many motorcycles have two seats. If your teacher invites you to "Take a seat," he means "Find a chair and sit in it." There are seats in cars and airplanes, around tables, in restaurants, and in movie theaters. As a verb, seat means "help someone find a place to sit," the way an usher seats audience members at a concert. Some people also use seat to mean "bottom" or "buttocks," or the section of your pants that covers this body part.
Vocabulary lists containing seat
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Barf bags are still supposed to be put in every seat, major U.S. airlines and flight attendants say, though some acknowledged that bags may not always be replaced immediately.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
“I do believe that fans at that show are going to be able to see things they’ve never seen before, and also every single seat is a great seat,” Cole said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Or in the seat pocket of her seatmate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
He had two Kumuls in his back seat and he was freaking out.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
It isn't until 1800 that an Austrian doctor named Franz Josef Gall declares that the brain is the seat of the intelligence, the emotions, and the will.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
The party of incumbent presidents regularly loses seats in midterm elections, and it is common for presidents to shake up their staffs halfway through a term.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Istiqlal, Morocco’s oldest party, won a plurality of the votes, taking nine of the region’s 21 seats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Democrats gained nine House seats in 1934, while Bill Clinton's party picked up four in 1998 and George W. Bush's Republicans gained eight in 2002.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
They hold 53 of the 100 seats while the Democrats have 45 and two independents who also vote with them.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
I ask hopefully once we’ve taken our seats.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
The Genius Act was signed into law on July 18, 2025, with Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino seated beside Hines at the White House signing ceremony.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
A brief exercise session, a walk, or simply getting up regularly instead of remaining seated may all contribute to healthier routines.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
The footage shows officers arriving Thursday in Marble Hill to find Oscar Belgal, 28, wounded, handcuffed and seated on the ground.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
Hasan will be seated in a chair with a hood placed over his head with a paper heart affixed to his chest.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
She takes the stage and, once Dad is seated at the piano on the floor at the foot of the stage, launches into “O Mio Babbino Caro.”
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
A less advanced “Performance” version, with seating for two and without the thrusters, is described as “road-ready,” while a “Thrust” version is described as “race-ready.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The dining area continues the breezy beach aesthetic, with a large wooden table and multiple seating areas providing plenty of space for entertaining.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
It looks better, I suppose, to have a thousand people kept from entering a venue than seating them in a spacious arena he can no longer fill.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
From Monday, visitors will be offered an audio guide with more information about the embroidery, while additional signage and seating will be provided for those queuing to reach the main exhibition.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
When you can do it secretly, go in and change the seating chart in the kindergarten classroom.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
