What is seat? Pronunciation and usage in English

seat means . Learn how to pronounce and use seat through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of seat

seatnoun

/siːt/
Definition & pronunciation of seat

The word "seat" is pronounced seat (like the word "meat").

It's a very straightforward pronunciation!

Here's a breakdown:

  • "sea": As in the ocean.
  • "t": As in the letter "t".

You can hear it pronounced correctly here: https://www.merriam-Webster.com/audio/pronunciation/seat

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Usage and examples with the word seat in English

Let's break down how to use the word "seat" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized by how it's used:

1. As a Noun (the object itself):

  • A place to sit: This is the most common meaning.

    • "We need to find a seat on the bus."
    • "She took a comfortable seat in the armchair."
    • "The restaurant has booths and individual seats."
    • "There were only a few seats left in the theater."
    • "He sat down in his seat with a sigh."

  • Part of a larger structure:

    • "The seat of government" (where the government is based)
    • "The seat of power" (where power lies)
    • "A parliamentary seat" (an elected position)

2. As a Verb (to place or sit):

  • To put someone in a seat:

    • "Please seat yourself." (meaning, “Go ahead and sit down”)
    • “The waiter seated us at a table by the window.”
    • "He seated the children in the front row."

  • To provide a place for someone to sit: (Less common, but still used)

    • "They are seating new benches in the park." (meaning, installing new seats)

3. Figurative/Idiomatic Uses:

  • "Seat of the pants": This refers to doing something without planning or preparation.

    • "He was flying by the seat of his pants – he hadn’t planned anything!"

  • "To seat someone for an exam": To officially allow someone to take an exam. ("She was seated for the final exam.")

4. Specific Furniture Terms:

  • Car seat: A seat designed for a car.
  • Stadium seat: A seat in a stadium.
  • Bucket seat: A contoured seat, often found in sports cars.

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Noun Place to sit "I need a seat on the train."
Noun Location of power/government "Washington D.C. is the seat of government.”
Verb To put in a seat "Please seat yourself."
Verb To furnish with seats “The park is seating new benches.”

Tips for Using "Seat" Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of “seat” depends heavily on how it’s used in a sentence.
  • Pay attention to the surrounding words: Words like “bus,” “theater,” “restaurant,” or “car” will usually help you understand the intended meaning.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

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  • Is there a specific situation where you're trying to use “seat”?

Synonyms for the word seat

Idioms of the word seat

be in the catbird seat
to have an advantage over other people or be in control of a situation
  • Canada is in the catbird seat as an energy powerhouse.
be in the driving seat
to be the person in control of a situation
    bums on seats
    (British English, informal)used to refer to the number of people who attend a show, talk, etc., especially when emphasizing the need or desire to attract a large number
    • They're not bothered about attracting the right audience—they just want bums on seats.
    (fly) by the seat of your pants
    (informal)to act without careful thought and without a plan that you have made in advance, hoping that you will be lucky and be successful
      on the edge of your seat
      very excited and giving your full attention to something
      • The game had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
      • I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next.
      take a back seat
      to allow somebody else to play a more active and important role in a particular situation than you do
      • Many managers take a back seat and leave recruitment to specialists.

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