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

The home’s foyer has a sit-in bar on one side and a formal dining room on the other. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2024

As late as 1957, when a group of six Black students held a sit-in protesting segregation at a Durham ice cream parlor, many of Black Durham’s elders deemed them troublemakers. —Victor Luckerson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sep. 2024

Verb

Bill Ruprecht, who sat in Sotheby’s big seat from 2000 to 2014, famously started in the company’s rug department in 1980. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 23 Sep. 2024

And all four of our FAST channels sit in front of the paywall on Fetch, generating advertising revenue. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 23 Sep. 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