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

Lewis helped organize sit-ins to desegregate the city’s lunch counters in 1960. —Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2024

Artist Nan Goldin and filmmaker Laura Poitras were among two hundred activists affiliated with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) who were arrested following an October 14 sit-in the group staged in support of Palestine outside the New York Stock Exchange in Lower Manhattan. —News Desk, Artforum, 16 Oct. 2024

Verb

Ade Rawcliffe, chair of the Learning, Inclusion & Talent Committee at BAFTA, is also a board member and sat in on the executive group for Breakthrough U.K. this year. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024

During the intermissions, the composer, frail and racked with pain, remained sitting in the general manager’s box. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 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