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

Lewis spoke at the March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr. and, in his later years, led a sit-in in the chambers of the House of Representatives over gun control legislation. —Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 18 July 2025

Lewis participated in the first lunch counter sit-ins in the 1960s, was a Freedom Rider in Montgomery, Alabama, and was a speaker at the March on Washington in 1963. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025

Verb

From left: Charles Kim Haskell sits in a hospital wheelchair; and steps on a treadmill with monitors. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025

Accommodating up to 12 guests, the vacation rental sits in the hilltop town of Casole d’Elsa. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 July 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