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

Could this woman be the ghost of a student activist who led a sit-in at the university in the 1960s, then mysteriously disappeared? —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025

The delegation staged a sit-in at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that made all involved look foolish. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2025

Verb

Also at Comic-Con, a 9,000 square foot digital billboard promoting the show sat in front of the convention center and custom artwork could be found in the Hilton hotel elevators. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025

At least 30,000 people sat in front of Snyder on the Polo Field in Golden Gate Park, and what had been only modestly noticed to that point would now pass into legend via an astonishing media scrum. —Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025

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
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin

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