sit-up

[ sit-uhp ]

noun

1. an exercise in which a person lies flat on the back, lifts the torso to a sitting position, and then lies flat again without changing the position of the legs: formerly done with the legs straight but now usually done with the knees bent.

sit up

verb

1. to raise (oneself or another) from a recumbent to an upright or alert sitting posture
2. intr to remain out of bed and awake, esp until a late hour
3. informal.
   intr to become suddenly interested or alert

   devaluation of the dollar made the money market sit up

noun

1. a physical exercise in which the body is brought into a sitting position from one lying on the back Alsotrunk curl

Word History and Origins

Origin of sit-up¹

First recorded in 1835–45; noun use of verb phrase sit up

Example Sentences

But then come a verdict on scriptwriter Bryce Hart's work which, coming from someone who's spent more than 45 years in comedy, makes you sit up and take notice.

From BBC

I sat up in recognition when Gov. Walz was being accused of so-called anger and abuse when the opposite was true.

From Salon

Then she sits up with a shrug, completely unharmed, as though this is how she typically navigates the stairs.

From BBC

“He was sitting up on the beach. A huge wave came in, rolled him and pulled him into the ocean,” she wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

The 27-year-old was confined to bed all day, unable to chew food and no longer able to sit up - she was severely ill with myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, and as a consequence severely malnourished.

From BBC

Related Words

• affect
• amuse
• appeal to
• attract
• concern
• engage
• engross
• entertain
• excite
• fascinate
• intrigue
• involve
• please
• tempt