sit well

USAGE SUMMARY

"sit well" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally means to be comfortable or to be appropriate in a particular situation. For example, "This chair does not sit well, so I'll need to find another one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It doesn't sit well".

The New York Times - Sports

This did not sit well with me.

The New York Times

That did not sit well with Kershaw.

The New York Times - Sports

That doesn't sit well with them.

The New York Times

That doesn't sit well with us.

The New York Times

"Losses don't sit well with me".

The New York Times - Sports

"That definitely didn't sit well," Williams said.

The New York Times - Sports

The attitude didn't sit well with everyone.

The New York Times

"That didn't really sit well with me.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

That didn't sit well with Albert.

The Washington Post

This can't sit well with Apple.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sit well" to describe situations where something aligns comfortably with expectations, values, or standards. For example, "The proposed solution didn't "sit well" with the team's ethical guidelines."

Common error

Avoid using "sit well" interchangeably with stronger terms like 'agree completely' or 'fully support'. "Sit well" often implies a sense of passive acceptance or uneasy compromise, rather than enthusiastic approval.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sit well" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating whether something is pleasing, agreeable, or appropriate. As evidenced by Ludwig AI's analysis, it is often used to express a sense of unease or disagreement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sit well" is a commonly used verb phrase that expresses whether something is pleasing, agreeable, or appropriate. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in News & Media. While grammatically correct and versatile, it carries a neutral to informal tone. To avoid misuse, it's essential to understand that "sit well" often implies passive acceptance, rather than complete agreement. Alternative phrases like "be comfortable with" or "go down well" can provide nuanced substitutes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go down well

Implies that something is received positively or accepted without issue.

be comfortable with

Focuses on the feeling of ease or acceptance regarding something.

be suited to

Focuses on the appropriateness or compatibility of something for a particular purpose or situation.

be agreeable to

Emphasizes the aspect of being pleasing or acceptable to someone.

be received favorably

Highlights the positive reception or acceptance of something.

rest easy with

Highlights a sense of reassurance or peace of mind concerning a matter.

feel right about

Focuses on intuition and the sense of something being correct or suitable.

be palatable to

Implies that something is agreeable or acceptable to someone's tastes or preferences.

resonate with

Indicates a sense of emotional or intellectual agreement or connection.

accord with

Stresses the aspect of harmony or agreement between things.

FAQs

How can I use "sit well" in a sentence?

You can use "sit well" to express that something is agreeable or appropriate. For example, "The new policy didn't "sit well" with the employees." or "That argument doesn't "sit well" with me."

What does it mean when something doesn't "sit well" with someone?

When something doesn't "sit well" with someone, it means that they are uncomfortable or uneasy with it; they may disagree or disapprove, but not necessarily strongly. It suggests a lack of complete agreement or satisfaction.

What are some alternatives to "sit well"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "be comfortable with", "go down well", or "be agreeable to" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say something "sits well" or "sit well"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "sits well" for singular subjects (e.g., 'That idea sits well with me') and "sit well" for plural subjects (e.g., 'Those ideas sit well with us').