i Register
In some senses, babysit is marked as informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.
babysit
/ˈbeɪ.bi.sɪt/
verb 3
Collocations
4ADJ.
able, used
VERB + BABYSIT
agree, am, ask, asked, asking, convince, find, gets
BABYSIT + NOUN
boys, child, children, friday, homer, john, mary, nights
PREP.
on
Definitions
verb
1
To watch or tend someone else's child for a period of time, often for money.
My daughter is babysitting for the Morgans at number ten, who are going out on a date night.
We need someone to babysit our children while we go to the theater.
2
To watch or tend a thing or process without normally intervening in it, e.g. as a precaution should an emergency happen.
The reaction takes several hours, so we leave a graduate student to babysit it.
3
To watch or attend anything or anyone more closely than ought to be needed; to have to help or coax too much.
He left me to babysit the new guy while he got some work done.
It was observed by the FBI personnel assigned to “babysit” agent Tricycle that his egregiously excessive spending was causing unwanted attention […]
Thesaurus
Synonyms
verb — work or act as a baby-sitter
- baby-sit
- sit
verb — take watchful responsibility for
- baby-sit
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
My daughter is babysitting for the Morgans at number ten, who are going out on a date night.
Wiktionary02
We need someone to babysit our children while we go to the theater.
Wiktionary03
Bart eventually gets Laura to babysit while Homer and Marge eat at the Sea Captain’s all-you-can-eat seafood joint, The Frying Dutchman.
Wiktionary04
I am supposed to babysit the children tonight.
Tatoeba · #25763505
They asked Kate to babysit their child.
Tatoeba · #38886806
Tom wants Mary to babysit his children.
Tatoeba · #1092473Usage Notes
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