babysit
gb/bˈeɪbisɪt/ us/bˈeɪbisɪt/
A2
English
gyerekre vigyáz, bébiszitterkedik, pesztrál, folyamatosan figyel, felügyel, bébiszittermunka, gyerekfelügyelet
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
babysit ([a child]/[the kids]); babysit for [someone]; babysit at [place]
Can you babysit the kids on Friday night?
Tudnál vigyázni a gyerekekre péntek este?
She babysits for two families in her neighborhood.
Két családnál is szokott gyerekekre vigyázni a környéken.
I used to babysit after school to earn extra money.
Learner examples
I babysit my sister on Saturdays.
Szombatonként a húgomra vigyázok.
He is babysitting tonight.
Ma este gyerekekre vigyáz.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse babysit (temporary) with be a nanny (regular job).
Meaning
care for children temporarily
Collocations
babysit the kids
|babysit for the neighbors
|babysit after school
|babysit on weekends
|babysit in the evening
|babysit overnight
|paid to babysit
|a babysitting job
|ask someone to babysit
|need a babysitter to babysit
Synonyms
look after (More general; can be for children, adults, or things.)
|
mind (Common in British English for taking care of children.)
Antonyms
neglect (Fail to take proper care of someone who needs it.)
Themes
family
|childcare
|daily_life
|work
Definition
to look after children while their parents are out
To take care of a child or children for a short time while their parents or usual carers are away, especially as a paid job.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
2
pesztrál
B2
Usage pattern:
babysit [someone]
I can’t do my job if I have to babysit him all day.
Nem tudom végezni a munkámat, ha egész nap őt kell pesztrálnom.
She ended up babysitting her friends to make sure they got home safely.
Végül neki kellett pesztrálnia a barátait, hogy biztosan épségben hazaérjenek.
The manager doesn’t want to babysit new hires forever.
Learner examples
I had to babysit him during the trip.
Az út alatt végig nekem kellett pesztrálnom őt.
Common mistake:
This use can sound rude if said directly to the person you are supervising.
Meaning
supervise an irresponsible person
Collocations
babysit a grown adult
|babysit him all night
|babysit the new intern
|babysit a teammate
|babysit someone at a party
|have to babysit
|stop babysitting
|babysit someone through a task
Synonyms
supervise (More neutral and formal; lacks the critical tone.)
|
hand-hold (Informal; emphasizes giving a lot of help step by step.)
Antonyms
trust (Allow someone to act independently without close watching.)
Themes
relationships
|work
|social_life
Definition
to watch someone closely because they cannot manage alone
To watch and guide someone closely because they are inexperienced, unreliable, or likely to cause problems, often with an annoyed or humorous tone.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
3
felügyel
B2
Usage pattern:
babysit [a system/task/process]
Someone has to babysit the server while the update installs.
Valakinek folyamatosan figyelnie kell a szervert, amíg települ a frissítés.
I don’t want to babysit this process all weekend.
Nem akarom egész hétvégén folyamatosan figyelni ezt a folyamatot.
They stayed late to babysit the machines during the first run.
Learner examples
I need to babysit the system tonight.
Ma éjjel folyamatosan figyelnem kell a rendszert.
Common mistake:
Often used when something should run by itself but doesn’t; it can imply inefficiency or annoyance.
Meaning
monitor a process closely
Collocations
babysit a server
|babysit a deployment
|babysit a process
|babysit a machine
|babysit the printer
|babysit the build
|babysit a production run
|babysit the system overnight
Synonyms
monitor (More neutral; doesn’t imply constant attention or frustration.)
|
keep an eye on (More general; can be less intensive than babysit.)
Antonyms
automate (Set up so it runs without ongoing human attention.)
Themes
technology
|work
|business
Definition
to watch something carefully so it does not go wrong
To keep watching a machine, system, or task closely so it continues to work correctly, especially when it needs frequent attention.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
a babysit; have a babysit
I’ve got a babysit this evening, so I can’t come out.
Ma estére van egy bébiszittermunkám, úgyhogy nem tudok elmenni.
She canceled her babysit at the last minute.
Az utolsó pillanatban lemondta a bébiszittermunkát.
He picked up an extra babysit to earn some cash.
Learner examples
I have a babysit tonight.
Ma estére van egy bébiszittermunkám.
Common mistake:
More common is babysitting (noun). This noun use can sound regional or informal.
Meaning
a period of babysitting
Collocations
a babysit tonight
|a regular babysit
|a last-minute babysit
|cancel a babysit
Synonyms
babysitting (More standard and widely used as a noun.)
|
shift (General word for a work period; not specific to childcare.)
Antonyms
time off (A period when you are not working or responsible for childcare.)
Themes
childcare
|daily_life
|work
Definition
a time when you babysit
A period of time when someone babysits; a babysitting job or shift.
Grammar
Dictionary form
babysit
IPA
GB/bˈeɪbisɪt/
US/bˈeɪbisɪt/
Syllables & stress
babysit (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (babysit)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: babysit
- 3rd Person Singular: baby-sits, babysits
- Present Participle: baby-sitting, babysitting
- Past: baby-sat, babysat
- Past Participle: baby-sat, babysat
Word family
Forms
baby-sits
verb
babysits
verb
baby-sitting
verb
babysitting
verb
baby-sat
verb
babysat
verb
Core family
babysitter
noun A2
Expressions
babysit for [someone]
1/bˈeɪbisɪt fɚ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
phrasal verb
babysit someone’s children
to look after someone’s children for them
Examples
- I’m babysitting for my sister while she goes to dinner.
- He babysits for a couple across the street on weekends.
- Could you babysit for us on Saturday night?
Learner examples
- I babysit for my neighbors.