1 B2 idiomatic neutral
to remain inactive while something important or wrong happens
"I won't sit by and watch them treat her like that."
“
The world cannot stand idly by.
— Barack Obama, statement on Syria, 2012
inseparable
sit by
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
to remain passive and do nothing while something happens
In plain English
to watch and not help or act
What does "sit by" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
to stay near someone, especially to offer quiet support during illness or trouble
"She sat by his bed for most of the night."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to sit near something or someone
Actually means
to watch and not help or act
Usage tip
Most often used in criticism, especially in phrases like 'sit by and do nothing.'
Words that pair with "sit by"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
do nothing watch helplessly while allow in silence
How to conjugate "sit by"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sit by
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sits by
he/she/it
Past simple
sat by
yesterday
Past participle
sat by
have + pp
-ing form
sitting by
continuous
Hear "sit by" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sit by" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "sit by"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.