sit by

phrasal verb

sat by; sitting by; sits by
: to make no effort to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening
I won't sit idly by while he ruins his life!

Examples of sit by in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Samantha sat by the phone for hours, waiting for confirmation that the worst had happened, that Surovtsev had been officially deported. Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 19 Nov. 2025 The next morning, Jace sits by the pond and looks at the ducks. Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025 Don't sit by yourself and just keep overthinking in the situation. Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025 Before becoming a big sister, the video shows 18-month-old Betty the black Labrador sitting by herself in the garden and waiting for someone to play fetch with her. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sit by

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“Sit by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit%20by. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

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