sit-in

1 of 2

noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for sit-in 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sit-in was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near sit-in

Cite this Entry

“Sit-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit-in. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sit-in

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