babysitter
A babysitter is a person who takes care of children for a short time while the parents are away from home. This person is usually paid and helps with activities like playing, feeding, or putting children to bed.
Examples
3 of 5We need to find a babysitter for our date night on Friday.
We need to find someone to watch our kids on Friday night.
The candidate has five years of experience as a professional babysitter.
The person has five years of work experience looking after children.
Can you be my babysitter for just an hour while I go to the store?
Can you watch my kids for an hour while I shop?
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a person who 'sits' near a 'baby' to make sure they are safe and happy.
Quick Quiz
We are going to a party, so we hired a ______ to stay with the children.
Correct!
The correct answer is: babysitter
Examples
We need to find a babysitter for our date night on Friday.
everydayWe need to find someone to watch our kids on Friday night.
The candidate has five years of experience as a professional babysitter.
formalThe person has five years of work experience looking after children.
Can you be my babysitter for just an hour while I go to the store?
informalCan you watch my kids for an hour while I shop?
The study analyzes the impact of a consistent babysitter on a child's social development.
academicThe research looks at how having the same childcare person affects a child's growth.
Our company offers a babysitter service for employees during the annual conference.
businessThe business provides childcare for workers at the yearly meeting.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
sit for someone
to be a babysitter for a specific person
babysitter's club
a group of people who provide childcare
watch the kids
to take care of children
Often Confused With
A nanny is a professional who usually works full-time, while a babysitter is often occasional or part-time.
A childminder takes care of children in their own home, but a babysitter goes to the child's home.
Usage Notes
The word is usually used for someone who watches children for a few hours. It is common for teenagers to do this as a part-time job.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'baby watch' instead of 'babysit' or 'babysitter'. Remember that 'babysitter' is the person (noun).
Memory Tip
Think of a person who 'sits' near a 'baby' to make sure they are safe and happy.
Word Origin
Created in American English in the 1940s from 'baby' and 'sitter' (one who sits with someone).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United States and UK, babysitting is a very common first job for high school students.
Quick Quiz
We are going to a party, so we hired a ______ to stay with the children.
Correct!
The correct answer is: babysitter
Related Vocabulary
More Family words
mom
A1A mom is a female parent who cares for and raises her children. It is a warm and informal name used to call or talk about one's mother.
daughter
A1A daughter is a female child or person in relation to her parents. It refers to the biological or legal relationship of a girl or woman to her mother and father.
sibling
A1A sibling is a brother or a sister. It is a general word used to describe people who have the same parents, regardless of their gender.
teenager
A1A teenager is a young person between the ages of 13 and 19. This term is used to describe the period of life when a person is no longer a child but not yet a full adult.
husband
A1A husband is a married man in relation to his spouse. It is a term used to describe a male partner in a marriage or a legally recognized union.
grandmother
A1A grandmother is the mother of a person's father or mother. She is a female ancestor who is two generations older than the person.
grandparent
A1A grandparent is the parent of one's father or mother. It is a general term that refers to either a grandfather or a grandmother within a family structure.
grandson
A1A grandson is the son of one's son or daughter. It is a term used to describe a male child in relation to his grandparents.
granddaughter
A1A granddaughter is the daughter of a person's son or daughter. It describes the relationship between a female child and her grandparents.
grandchild
A1A grandchild is the child of one's son or daughter. It represents the second generation of descendants after one's own children.
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