Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To take care of a child or children in the absence of a parent or guardian.
- intransitive verb To take care of or watch over someone or something needing attention or guidance.
- intransitive verb To provide care for (a child) in the absence of a parent or guardian.
- intransitive verb To watch over or tend.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To
watch ortend someone else's child for a period of time, often formoney . - verb To watch or attend anything or anyone unnecessarily closely; to have to help or coax too much.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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McGovern, meanwhile, continued to "babysit" the film, now at Norton Air Force base in California.
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McGovern, meanwhile, continued to "babysit" the film, now at Norton Air Force base in California.
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Bomb kills dozens in Iraqi city as US troops diverted to 'babysit' Cheney and McCain et al. Quicklink submitted by Amanda Lang
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OpEdNews - Quicklink: Bomb kills dozens in Iraqi city as US troops diverted to 'babysit' Cheney and McCain et al. Login
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On top of that we now have some project students in the lab, we have to "babysit" for a while, until they are independent enough to cruise on their own.
Archive 2007-06-01 Taitauwai 2007
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On top of that we now have some project students in the lab, we have to "babysit" for a while, until they are independent enough to cruise on their own.
Chemistry & Cooking Taitauwai 2007
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On Saturday it was off to the house of patermunkey to "babysit" Ms Cait and ElectroBoy.
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It's a pretty great job: You essentially "babysit" a celeb, walk them to the stage at the appropriate time, and in exchange, get a free breakfast and t-shirt out of the deal.
Archive 2005-05-01 Michelle Collins 2005
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On Saturday it was off to the house of patermunkey to "babysit" Ms Cait and ElectroBoy.
Archive 2005-12-01 2005
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I guess though I kind of babysit at My First Moustache Shows ...
withkerth Diary Entry withkerth 2003
gfss commented on the word babysit
Apparently, one no longer babysits for a baby. Now, one babysits the baby--makes me wonder whether the sitter expects to hatch one. Terrible usage of the word.
February 23, 2010