sit by

phrasal verb

sat by; sitting by; sits by
: to make no effort to stop something bad or unpleasant from happening
I won't sit idly by while he ruins his life!

Examples of sit by 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.
The Gachot dog, Slim, sits by a plate of caviar and potato chips. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025 Nothing quite compares to the joy of sitting by the beach, breathing in the warm ocean breeze, and basking in the beauty of your surroundings. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025 Smith's mother Caroline Bright also sat by his side during the ceremony. Tommy McArdle, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025 So, trust that your friends and loved ones aren’t sitting by the mailbox waiting for your reply to their gesture. R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sit by

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sit by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sit%20by. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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!