Take a seat is a polite way of inviting someone to sit down. You say it to a guest, a client or a job candidate. You can also use it about yourself: I took a seat by the door.
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take a seat; please take a seat; take a seat by/at + place; take your seat(s)
- Please take a seat while the doctor finishes with another patient.
- She took a seat at the back of the room so she could leave early.
- Passengers should take their seats before the doors close.
What changed
First versionPlease take a sit. The manager will be here soon.
RevisionPlease take a seat. The manager will be here soon.
Sit and seat sound alike, so they are often confused. Sit is a verb: sit down. Seat is a noun meaning a place to sit. In take a seat you literally take a place, so you need seat; the verb sit doesn't fit here.
Sit down also asks someone to sit, but it is more direct, and in a stern voice it becomes an order: Sit down and listen! Take a seat is what a host or a member of staff says to a visitor; you hear it in offices, clinics and job interviews.
Your turn
Come in and ___, please. The interview panel will join you in a moment.
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take a seat — The candidate is being invited to sit down, so you need take a seat. Take place means to happen or be held: The interview will take place on Monday. It can't be used to ask someone to sit down, even though both phrases pair take with a word about a place.
Imagine you are greeting a visitor at the office. Invite them to sit down and say how long they will have to wait.
Good morning, please take a seat. Mr Brown will be with you in about ten minutes.
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