chess

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a game for 2 players each of whom moves 16 pieces according to fixed rules across a checkerboard and tries to checkmate the opponent's king

Illustration of chess

Illustration of chess
  • chessboard with chess pieces arranged as at the beginning of a game

chess

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: a weedy annual European bromegrass (Bromus secalinus) widely naturalized in North America as a weed especially in grain
2
: any of several weedy bromegrasses related to chess

Examples of chess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Originally written by Tim Rice, the musical centers on two chess grandmasters, American prodigy Freddie Trumper (Tveit) and Russian grandmaster Anatoly Sergievsky (Christopher), who face off in tournaments amid Cold War tensions. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026 The book follows the controversy surrounding teenage chess whiz Hans Niemann, who was accused of cheating after beating world champion Magnus Carlsen in a 2022 match. Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 May 2026 Its famed 19th-century patrons included the writers Charles Dickens and Arthur Conan Doyle, who dined among rolling carving trolleys—which, in fact, were quietly gliding in the background to prevent disturbing the country’s top chess players, the venue being the sport’s British center at the time. Ming Liu, Robb Report, 23 May 2026 Bulusu loves chess, soccer and playing the flute. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for chess

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chesse, ches, esches, borrowed from Anglo-French escheks, eschez "game of chess" — more at check entry 2

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chess was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Chess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chess. Accessed 27 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

chess

noun
ˈches
: a game for two players each of whom plays with 16 pieces on a checkerboard
Etymology

Noun

Middle English ches "game of chess," from early French eschés (same meaning), literally, "checks," from eschec "check" — related to check, checker

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