sit-in

[sit-in]

noun

1. any organized protest in which a group of people peacefully occupy and refuse to leave a premises.

   Sixty students staged a sit-in outside the dean's office.

2. an organized passive protest, especially against racial segregation, in which the demonstrators occupy seats prohibited to them, as in restaurants and other public places.

3. sit-down strike.

sit-in

noun

1. a form of civil disobedience in which demonstrators occupy seats in a public place and refuse to move as a protest

2. another term for sit-down strike

verb

1. (often foll by for) to deputize (for)

2. (foll by on) to take part (in) as a visitor or guest

   we sat in on Professor Johnson's seminar

3. to organize or take part in a sit-in

Word History and Origins

Origin of sit-in¹

1955–60; noun use of verb phrase sit in (a place); sit ¹, -in ³

Idioms and Phrases

Attend or take part as a visitor, as in My son's jazz group asked me to sit in tonight . It is often put as sit in on , as in They asked me to sit in on their poker game . [Mid-1800s]

Take part in a sit-in, that is, an organized protest in which seated participants refuse to move. For example, The students threatened to sit in unless the dean was reinstated . [c. 1940]

sit in on . Visit or observe, as in I'm sitting in on his class, but not for credit . [Early 1900s]

sit in for . Substitute for a regular member of a group, as in I'm just sitting in for Harold, who couldn't make it .

Example Sentences

In each case the individuals have been accused of supporting the banned group by taking part in peaceful sit-in protests around the country.

From BBC

The pictures from last week's sit-in protest in Parliament Square over the banned group Palestine Action were unprecedented.

From BBC

The Super Falcons have several times been involved in sit-in protests during major tournaments over pay issues, including after their 2023 Women's World Cup run.

From BBC

The rally felt like a 1960s-style sit-in with attendees singing along to a gentle rendition of Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land.

From BBC

Activists from Jewish Voice for Peace donned matching shirts reading “not in our name” and flooded the building’s lobby to stage a sit-in.

From Salon

Related Words

• demonstration 
• protest 
• revolt 
• riot 
• sit-down 
• walkout