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 the capital, a sit-in at the Grand Bazaar earlier this week prompted security forces to deploy tear gas and temporarily shut the market. —Connor Greene, Time, 7 Jan. 2026

The contours of Hind’s death grew into an international outrage, with Columbia student protesters renaming a campus building Hind’s Hall during a sit-in that spring; Macklemore wrote a song. —E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

Verb

Off in the distance, away from the units surrounded by gates and observation towers, a graveyard with a white arched gate sits in the midst of clear blue sky. —Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026

General Manager Don Waddell announced the abrupt change with his team sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference 45 games into the season with a record of 19-19-7. —Arkansas Online, 13 Jan. 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