sit by

phrasal verb

sat by; sitting by; sits by

: to make no effort to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening

I won't sit idly by while he ruins his life!

Examples of sit by in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Jacob sat by his bedside and counted each of his brother’s last breaths. —

Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 For rainy days, frequent in this damp corner of England, sit by the fire in the bar and warm up with one of their signature whisky cocktails. —

Natasha Langan, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024 One standout is Country Home, crafted to evoke the comfort of sitting by a crackling fire in a Scottish countryside house. —

Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2024 Perhaps after your rejuvenating massage, go to the lounge area in the hotel and sit by the fireplace, enjoying a special cocktail or our famous Little Nell hot chocolate. —

Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sit by