sit-in

/'sitin/

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Word: Sit-in

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A sit-in is a type of protest where people occupy a space, usually by sitting down, and refuse to leave. This is often done to show disagreement with an issue or to demand change. It is a form of civil disobedience, meaning it is a peaceful way to oppose laws or policies that people believe are unfair.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "sit-in" to describe a specific event where people gather and sit down to protest.
• It is usually used in discussions about social justice, civil rights, or political issues.

Example:

• "During the civil rights movement, many students organized sit-ins at lunch counters to protest segregation."

Advanced Usage:

• In historical contexts, you might encounter phrases like "the Greensboro sit-ins," which refers to a specific series of protests in 1960 in North Carolina where African American students sat at "whites-only" lunch counters.

Word Variants:

• Sit-in (noun): The act of occupying a space.
• Sit-in demonstration (noun): A protest event that involves a sit-in.
• Sit-in participant (noun): A person who takes part in a sit-in.

Different Meaning:

• In a more general context, "sit-in" can also refer to a temporary substitute for someone in a meeting or class, like when a teacher asks another teacher to cover their class for a day.

Synonyms:

• Protest
• Demonstration
• Occupation (in the context of occupying a space)
• Civil disobedience

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Take a seat": While not a direct synonym, this idiom might be used in contexts where someone is invited to sit down, but it does not relate to protests.
• "Sit down for a cause": This phrase can be used to describe participating in a sit-in.

Summary:

A "sit-in" is a peaceful protest where people sit down in a specific place to show their disagreement with something.

Academic

Noun

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