Sit-Down vs. Sit Down
“Sit down” is the two-word phrasal verb for moving into a seated position. Cambridge separately records hyphenated “sit-down” as an adjective and noun, including uses such as a sit-down meal or a serious sit-down. The closed query spelling “sitdown” is therefore normalized to the hyphenated owner rather than treated as a standard competing form.
Use “sit down” as the phrasal verb. Use “sit-down” with a hyphen for the documented adjective or noun. The closed spelling “sitdown” is not the standard form represented by the reviewed dictionary entry.
Key details
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “sit down” as the verb. Use hyphenated “sit-down” for the documented adjective or noun, such as a sit-down meal or a sit-down discussion.
Fast Test
If someone is performing the action, write two words: “sit down.” If the expression labels a type of meal, event, protest, or discussion, the documented form is “sit-down.”
Usage Boundary
The candidate spelling “sitdown” should not be promoted as the standard noun/adjective form when the reviewed dictionary headword is hyphenated “sit-down.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- sit down / sit-down — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence distinguishing phrasal verb sit down from hyphenated sit-down adjective and noun uses.