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

The restaurant is in the former McCrory’s Five and Dime, where the famous sit-in by the Friendship 9 occurred in 1961. —Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2025

Harvard was also asked to immediately reform its student discipline rules—including the adoption of a mask ban—and investigate all student violations regarding the sit-ins and protests that have occurred on-campus. —Solcyré Burga, Time, 6 May 2025

Verb

While Zelenskyy waited in vain for Putin in Ankara, the Russian negotiating team sat in Istanbul with no one to talk to on the Ukrainian side. —Tom Balmforth, USA Today, 16 May 2025

Then there’s the church scene where two girls stifle their giggles as a woman sitting in a nearby pew admonishes them to quiet themselves during the service. —Timeka Tounsel, Forbes.com, 15 May 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