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

Its two-hour runtime is somewhat excessive but perhaps prudent to capture the sit-in’s grueling length. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026

Despite the historical implications that follow — the SF sit-in became one of the country’s largest — Heder doesn’t noodle on the cultural vegetable aspect of this story. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

The businessman, 75, sat in the front row of the courtroom in Auburn’s historic Maple Street courthouse, wearing a gray suit and black headphones to amplify the statements and testimony. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

In the public imagination, Housewives with a capital H are fame-hungry attention hogs who would rather throw the $400 bottle of Château Brane-Cantenac Margaux that’s sitting in front of us than sip it, as Cosby is hesitantly doing now. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 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