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

Pro-Palestinian student protesters at Barnard College in New York stormed an academic building Wednesday evening and held an hours-long sit-in. —Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025

Nearly 100 students from Barnard and Columbia University – which is affiliated with Barnard and was a focal point of pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year – staged a sit-in at Barnard’s Milbank Hall, Columbia University Apartheid Divest said on social media. —Emma Tucker, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025

Verb

Three small bedrooms sit in a line off a long hall that leads from the front door, followed by the bathroom, kitchen, and, at the front of the apartment, a large living room or dining room and, beyond a set of French doors, what could be a den, an office, or another bedroom. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 4 Mar. 2025

The justices and Cabinet officials sit in the first row. —Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 3 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