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

Thursday's developments came hours after dozens of protesters calling for Khalil's release were arrested at a sit-in at Trump Tower in New York City. —Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025

Six months prior to his arrival in Greensboro, four Black students from North Carolina A&T refused to leave the whites-only Woolworth lunch counter, launching a sit-in movement that soon drew national attention. —Christopher A. Cooper, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2025

Verb

Little kids and several dogs were wandering around as music fans sat in small groups in the dry grass. —Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025

As the plane taxied to the gate, Levi, a former military airplane mechanic from Las Vegas who was sitting in a window seat, saw smoke coming from the wing and then fire. —arkansasonline.com, 15 Mar. 2025

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