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 December, trans rights activists with the Gender Liberation Movement (GLM) including Raquel Willis, Chelsea Manning, and more than a dozen others were arrested during a bathroom sit-in protest across from Johnson’s office decrying the bathroom ban. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 8 Jan. 2025

At Saturday night's rally in Tel Aviv, police carried away some protesters who staged a sit-in on a street. —Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Jan. 2025

Verb

For the uninitiated, the custom goes a little something like this: The bride sits in a chair with the groom kneeling on the floor before her. —Ivana Rihter, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2024

Moore was sitting in her car during her lunch break when her therapist called to give her the news. —Maya Miller, ProPublica, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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