# sit in

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sit-in
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to attend a meeting, class, or activity just to watch and listen without taking part. You might do this to learn how something works or to see if you like a course.

For teachers: to attend a session as an observer rather than a participant. The verb is intransitive when used with the preposition 'on' to introduce the activity, or it can function as a discrete unit in specific protest contexts.

## Examples

- The new teacher will sit in on our lesson today.
- My manager asked if I could sit in on the negotiation to take notes for the team.
- Prospective doctoral candidates are often encouraged to sit in on graduate seminars to gauge the department's intellectual climate before applying.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I sat in the meeting to learn." but "I sat in on the meeting to learn." — the phrasal verb requires the preposition 'on' to connect to the specific event being observed.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by the preposition 'on' when an object is present.
- Teaching tip: distinguish between the observational sense (sit in on) and the political sense (a sit-in protest); for the observational sense, emphasize that the person is a 'silent' guest.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.