plural chairs
1
a
: a seat typically having four legs and a back for one person
b
: electric chair
—used with the
2
a
: an official seat or a seat of authority, state, or dignity
b
: an office or position of authority or dignity
c
: professorship
holds a university chair
d
: chairperson sense 1
was appointed chair of the committee
3
: a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk
specifically
: the position of a player in an orchestra or band
4
: any of various devices that hold up or support
5
: a sedan chair
chaired; chairing; chairs
1
: to preside as chairperson of
chaired a commission
2
: to install in office
3
chiefly British
: to carry on the shoulders in acclaim
we chaired you through the market place—
A. E. Housman
A. E. HousmanSynonyms
Examples of chair in a Sentence
Noun
a chair by the window
We'll need a table and four chairs for the dining room.
He is now chair of the English department.
She's chair of the school board this year.
Address any questions to the committee chair.
a murderer who was sentenced to the chair
Verb
He's been chosen to chair the task force on school violence.
Recent Examples on the WebEmma Bowman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
Her husband is a former chair of the California Republican Party.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
The filmmaker has long supported President Biden, and Spielberg’s friend and former DreamWorks business partner Jeffrey Katzenberg is now a chair of the Biden campaign.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Federal Communications Commission has voted—once again—to assert its power to oversee and regulate the activities of the broadband industry in the United States.
—Dell Cameron, WIRED, 25 Apr. 2024
Phillips, the former chair of the Talenti gelato empire, suspended his longshot bid against Biden in early March after suffering a string of double-digit defeats.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Some senators, including powerful committee chairs like Maria Cantwell, a Democrat of Washington, and Mr. Warner, considered changes to the bill in a process that could significantly slow it down.
—Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Moise, who was recently appointed as the museum’s first Haitian-American board chair, thanked Wilson for her support.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Its next stop is in the Senate judiciary committee, which Umberg chairs, on April 23.
—Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 14 Apr. 2024
Michael Schneider, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Leading that charge is the Committee for A Stronger Future, chaired by Marcus Winn, a community organizer.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
The Energy and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Ms. McMorris Rodgers, took the bill up that week.
TikTok, which had been negotiating with U.S. officials over its Project Texas plan, was caught off guard.
—Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Topping the House list was Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, who chairs the Regulatory Reform Committee.
—Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Under potential options presented by administrators, the committee chaired by Carr — the Committee on Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) — could be reduced to meeting every other month, rather than monthly.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Even after months of research and debate, the agency boards and managers still hadn’t reached an agreement on the final plan with just days to go before Tuesday’s hearing, said Kings County Supervisor Joe Neves, who chairs one of the groundwater agencies.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
Councilmember Kent Lee, who chairs the land use and housing committee that had been scheduled to consider the public investment this coming Thursday, commended the mayor’s effort to expand the city’s shelter capacity.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Cantwell chairs the Senate Commerce Committee while McMorris Rodgers leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
—David Klepper, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
Noun
In a letter to FCC chair Rosenworcel this week, a group of Republican lawmakers said the draft order to restore net neutrality regulations would chill innovation and investment in the broadband industry.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
Her husband is a former chair of the California Republican Party.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
The filmmaker has long supported President Biden, and Spielberg’s friend and former DreamWorks business partner Jeffrey Katzenberg is now a chair of the Biden campaign.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2024
Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Federal Communications Commission has voted—once again—to assert its power to oversee and regulate the activities of the broadband industry in the United States.
—Dell Cameron, WIRED, 25 Apr. 2024
Phillips, the former chair of the Talenti gelato empire, suspended his longshot bid against Biden in early March after suffering a string of double-digit defeats.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
Some senators, including powerful committee chairs like Maria Cantwell, a Democrat of Washington, and Mr. Warner, considered changes to the bill in a process that could significantly slow it down.
—Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Moise, who was recently appointed as the museum’s first Haitian-American board chair, thanked Wilson for her support.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Its next stop is in the Senate judiciary committee, which Umberg chairs, on April 23.
—Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 14 Apr. 2024
Verb
Reality programming peer group governor Scott Freeman chaired this year’s Television Academy Honors selection committee.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Leading that charge is the Committee for A Stronger Future, chaired by Marcus Winn, a community organizer.
—Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
The Energy and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Ms. McMorris Rodgers, took the bill up that week.
TikTok, which had been negotiating with U.S. officials over its Project Texas plan, was caught off guard.
—Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Topping the House list was Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, who chairs the Regulatory Reform Committee.
—Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Under potential options presented by administrators, the committee chaired by Carr — the Committee on Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) — could be reduced to meeting every other month, rather than monthly.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Even after months of research and debate, the agency boards and managers still hadn’t reached an agreement on the final plan with just days to go before Tuesday’s hearing, said Kings County Supervisor Joe Neves, who chairs one of the groundwater agencies.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
Councilmember Kent Lee, who chairs the land use and housing committee that had been scheduled to consider the public investment this coming Thursday, commended the mayor’s effort to expand the city’s shelter capacity.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Cantwell chairs the Senate Commerce Committee while McMorris Rodgers leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
—David Klepper, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chair
Cite this Entry
“Chair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chair. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
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