sit in meaning and examples thumbnail

sit in meaning and examples

2025-09-30

Meaning

  • Sit in is a phrasal verb with different meanings depending on context:

    1. To attend a meeting, class, or event as an observer (without actively participating).
    2. To take part in a protest by occupying a place and refusing to leave (a form of nonviolent protest).
    3. To temporarily replace someone (e.g., in music or a meeting).

Grammar and Usage

  • Form: sit in (on something) / sit in for someone

  • Part of speech: Phrasal verb (intransitive)

  • Patterns:

    • sit in on + noun (meeting/class/event) → observe
    • sit in for + person → substitute for someone
    • sit in (without object) → join as a protest

Common Phrases

  • sit in on a meeting
  • sit in on a class
  • sit in on an interview
  • sit in for a band member
  • student sit-in
  • sit-in protest

Collocations

  • Verb + sit in: decide to sit in, allow to sit in, refuse to sit in
  • Noun + sit in: meeting sit-in, classroom sit-in, sit-in protest
  • Prepositions: sit in on, sit in for

Examples

  1. She asked if she could sit in on the class to see how it was taught.
  2. The lawyer allowed a trainee to sit in on the meeting.
  3. The students organized a sit-in protest at the university.
  4. A guest musician will sit in for the drummer tonight.
  5. Reporters were not permitted to sit in on the private negotiations.
  6. Hundreds of people staged a sit-in at the city hall.
  7. May I sit in on your lecture this afternoon?
  8. The manager asked him to sit in for his colleague while she was away.
  • observe
  • attend
  • audit (a class)
  • join (a protest)
  • substitute

Antonym

  • leave out
  • exclude
  • walk out (opposite of sit-in protest)