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to sit in on

to sit in on

27 3.2
To go to a class or meeting to watch and learn without taking part
  • phrasal verb
  • /sɪt ɪn ɑn/
translation icon : asistir a
  • Students from the University of Michigan wander in and are invited to sit in on work sessions.
  • sit in on a meeting
  • sit in on a class

And I've walked in and just sat in on classes and been amazed.

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Examples

  • I just sat in on your class.

  • If a project runs into difficulties, she may sit in on a community meeting.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Do you mind if I sit in on this, J. Day?

  • - Did you ever sit in on one? - Yeah.

  • Wanna sit in on this? - Sure.

  • Just let me sit in on a session every now and then.

  • Paul, you make me want to come and sit in on one of your classes.

    Academic text (2008)
  • When I was a kid I used to sit in on some of the sessions.

  • Recently, I sat in on an elementary school session about bullying.

    Academic text (2014)
  • I would like to sit in on the meeting to learn more about the project.

Synonyms

to attend
vsto sit in on
1.7

To be present at a meeting or event

focuses on being present mainly to observe and gather information
to witness
vsto sit in on
653 3.0

To see or be present at an event as it happens

means being at an event deliberately to observe and collect information
to listen in
vsto sit in on
  • Informal
57 5.0

To hear a conversation secretly without being noticed

involves open presence to observe rather than secret eavesdropping
to look on
vsto sit in on
50 3.4

To watch events happen without taking part

is about being at events to observe and gather information
to sit in
vsto sit in on
23 3.9

Attend a meeting or class as a visitor, not a regular participant

is used when presence aims to observe and gather information

Antonyms

866 2.5

To join in an activity with other people

676 3.4

To take part in an activity

How Involved

to participate
866 2.5
to sit in on
27 3.2
to observe
619 2.4
to listen
1.0

Surface Forms

sit in on infinitive
sat in on past
sat in on past participle
sitting in on present participle
sits in on third person singular

Morphology

sit + in + on

The components 'sit' + 'in' + 'on' give a general sense of being physically present or positioned with respect to an event, so a learner might guess it involves attending. However, the specific nuance 'attend without taking an active role (observe/passively participate)' is a pragmatic/idiomatic extension of the literal parts and is not fully predictable, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituents may misunderstand the exact pragmatic meaning.

Etymology

Sit in on comes from the simple image of someone who sits in a room or meeting on a chair and watches without speaking. That's why it now means 'to attend without taking part' or 'to observe'.