chess

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈches 

: 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

• 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

Noun

Throughout the international chess community, tributes poured in for the late star after the news of his death became public. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

Now, the website has become essential for anyone who’s interested in, or serious about, chess—from novices to grandmasters. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2025

Instructor Aaron Kirkham, with a peak rating of 2100 and years of teaching experience, is passionate about making chess accessible and enjoyable for all ages. —Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

The show revolves around a Cold War era chess tournament, where two grandmasters — one American and one Soviet — compete in a high stakes match, while tensions boil over in their relationships with one woman. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing chess

• chess pie

Rhymes for chess

• bless
• cress
• dress
• es
• ess
• esse
• fess
• guess
• jess
• less
• lesse
• mess

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