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

Artists for Aid was for and largely by the generation that upended American political discourse after October 7 with campus sit-ins, the generation that hardly seems daunted by the crackdowns against them. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026

Of the original living participants of the first historic Katz Drug Store sit-in, only two have been unable to visit the Clara Luper National Sit-In Plaza since its 2025 dedication in downtown Oklahoma City. —Carla Hinton, Oklahoman, 11 Feb. 2026

Verb

They were carved with patriotic love by a Texas sculptor who studied in Paris under a French modern master and envisioned as the polished centerpieces of a $10 million park, but now sit in a Virginia field as an offbeat, reservations-only, roadside tourist draw. —Danielle Paquette The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026

This story focuses on the election for District 26C Superior Court Judge sitting in Seat 1, which features sheriff’s office attorney George Guise and Rowan County Assistant District Attorney Caleb Newman. —Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 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