sit-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈsit-ˌin 

1

: sit-down sense 1

2

a

: an act of occupying seats in a racially segregated establishment in organized protest against discrimination

b

: an act of sitting in the seats or on the floor of an establishment as a means of organized protest

sit in

2 of 2

verb

sat in; sitting in; sits in

intransitive verb

1

: to take part in or be present at a session of music or discussion as a visitor

—often used with on

invited to sit in on a rehearsal

2

: to participate in a sit-in

Examples of sit-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

No longer would the environmental movement be content with filing lawsuits and staging sit-ins. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

In 2024, following sit-in protests at Google offices in New York and Sunnyvale, the company fired approximately 28 workers who participated in demonstrations against Project Nimbus. — Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Verb

And, as any Falcons fan sitting in the same stadium on an autumn Sunday a few months from now will tell you, the prevent defense never works. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Do not let pasta sit in the sink waiting for the condimento to be ready or for your family and friends to sit down at the table or open a bottle of wine or feed the dog while your pasta sits, dying, in a colander. — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sit-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

Kids Definition

sit-in

noun

ˈsit-ˌin

: an act of sitting in seats or on the floor (as in a restaurant or office) as a means of organized protest