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
So, trust that your friends and loved ones aren’t sitting by the mailbox waiting for your reply to their gesture.
—
R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, Yearwood's husband, Garth Brooks, sat by her side the entire ceremony.
—Daniela Avila, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025
The combination feels like sitting by a crackling fire with a garden view—cozy yet refreshing.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Mar. 2025
As natural protectors, dogs might decide to sit by doors to guard the house and family from possible intruders.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sit by
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R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, Yearwood's husband, Garth Brooks, sat by her side the entire ceremony.
—Daniela Avila, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025
The combination feels like sitting by a crackling fire with a garden view—cozy yet refreshing.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Mar. 2025
As natural protectors, dogs might decide to sit by doors to guard the house and family from possible intruders.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sit by
Cite this Entry
“Sit by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit%20by. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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