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

In 1960, four college students staged a sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. —Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026

From the Greensboro sit-ins to the anti-war walkouts of the 1960s, young Americans have pressed the nation to honor its promises of liberty and equality. —Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2026

Verb

When a judge ruled in 2025 the measure was a general tax that the Board of Supervisors could use at their discretion, more than $800 million sat in the fund. —Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

Pettit and his colleague Paul Strefling, sitting in the pilot’s seat between us, are engineers in the business of ride quality. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 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
• 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