sit up - Definition & Meaning | VisualLang Dictionary

sit up

to change one's position from a lying position into an upright oneto change one's position from a lying position into an upright one

Examples

After a long nap on the couch, she suddenly sat up, realizing she had overslept.
The patient in the hospital bed struggled to sit up after the surgery.
The baby learned to sit up on her own, a milestone in her development.

1 / 4

sit up

Third Person

sits up

Present Participle

sitting up

Past Tense

sat up

Past Participle

sat up

1

to change one's position from a lying position into an upright one

After a long nap on the couch, she suddenly sat up, realizing she had overslept.
The patient in the hospital bed struggled to sit up after the surgery.
The baby learned to sit up on her own, a milestone in her development.
He was so engrossed in the movie that he didn't sit up until the credits started rolling.
The yoga instructor instructed the class to slowly sit up after the relaxation pose.

2

to stay awake beyond the usual or expected time

I had to sit up late last night to finish my assignment for school.
He often sits up reading a good book until the early hours of the morning.
Despite feeling tired, she decided to sit up and watch the late-night talk show.
The students had to sit up to prepare for the upcoming exams.
They like to sit up and chat with friends when they come over for a visit.

Synonyms:

3

to help a person to move from a reclined position to a seated one

The nurse gently sat up the patient in bed to administer the medication.
After the surgery, it took some assistance for him to sit up and eat his meal comfortably.
Parents often sit up their infants to burp them after feeding.
The yoga instructor instructed the class to sit up straight for the meditation session.
She needed someone to sit her up in the morning as she was recovering from a back injury.

4

to pay attention or show interest, especially in a particular topic or conversation

The audience sat up as the guest speaker shared personal anecdotes that captivated everyone's attention.
She began to sit up when the conversation turned to topics related to her favorite hobby.
When the professor mentioned the upcoming exam, the students immediately sat up and took notice.
During the meeting, everyone sat up when the CEO started discussing the company's future plans.
The children sat up when they heard the teacher announce a surprise field trip.