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

She also was arrested for staging a sit-in at the governor’s office to protest that redistricting plan, which DeSantis championed. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

When a 1977 Guillermo Vilas match was shifted to the evening, fans staged a sit-in and threw objects at the court. — Ben Ryder Howe, Curbed, 21 Aug. 2026

Verb

Many of those waiting for the court to open in the early morning hours sat in folding chairs beneath flags flying at half-staff in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Test for real-time surgery Hibbert’s brain tumor measured about 11 millimeters and sat in his pituitary gland. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 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