sit-in

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of sit-innext
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
Artists for Aid was for and largely by the generation that upended American political discourse after October 7 with campus sit-ins, the generation that hardly seems daunted by the crackdowns against them. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026 Of the original living participants of the first historic Katz Drug Store sit-in, only two have been unable to visit the Clara Luper National Sit-In Plaza since its 2025 dedication in downtown Oklahoma City. Carla Hinton, Oklahoman, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Daniel Thioune, the former Hamburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf head coach, is now in charge of Bremen, but there was no immediate bounce; Thioune and his new side sit in the relegation play-off place. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 Collectible and numismatic coins Numismatic or semi-collectible silver coins sit in a different category completely. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sit-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit-in. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster