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. Housman
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the WebGerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023
The national finance chair for Trump’s 2016 campaign, Mnuchin served as Treasury secretary for the entirety of the Republican’s administration.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
Zodiac Ball The Children’s Oncology Support Fund hosted the inaugural Zodiac Ball on Thursday in Los Angeles, hosted by Brooke Burke alongside vice chairs for the evening Barron N. Hilton and Tessa Hilton.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2023
She’s seated in a white leather chair in an empty photo studio, her legs tucked beneath her and her signature orange ’fro complementing a fluorescent-pink hoodie.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2023
The House Oversight Committee, which Comer chairs, had previously interviewed Hunter’s ex-business partner Devon Archer, touting his testimony as the thing that would finally break the dam open.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2023
Like other college students, his nether regions were at the mercy of the unforgiving plastic chairs often found in the library and residence halls.
—Laurie Saloman, Verywell Health, 28 Sep. 2023
The folding chair is designed to support up to 500 pounds, and it’s made to fit two people.
—Casey Clark, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
Though many of the furniture pieces, like the sofa and the yellow chair in the office, were designed by Younis and custom-made, this home isn’t precious in any way.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023
cleveland, 14 Sep. 2023
Back in Chico, Hambley now chairs the Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition, which Hambley helped grow in the wake of the Camp Fire, determined to continue the collective approach to harm reduction that came out of that disaster.
—Popular Science, 14 Sep. 2023
Images of the king chairing emergency cabinet meetings were shared on social media.
—Claire Parker, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
Facing intense pressure to reconsider the vote — and after enduring death threats — Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, the Los Angeles Democrat who chairs the Public Safety Committee, called for a new hearing on the measure, and it was promptly passed.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
After private deliberation, the decision was read by Brendan Kelly, the Illinois State Police director who chairs the waiver review committee.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2023
That includes talking about legislation with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate and chairing a working group consisting of people across the country who live near active and decommissioned commercial power plants such as SONGS.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2023
In this festive vignette, Burnett’s Boards adds a a sweet touch to wooden dining room chairs with a small wreath and neutral ribbon.
—Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 18 Aug. 2023
There’s also the question mark raised by a hawkish Federal Trade Commission, chaired by Lina Khan, who’s made her aversion to tech mergers the foundation of her career.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2023
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Noun
Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan has said the agency is watching closely for signs of anticompetitive behavior.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023
The national finance chair for Trump’s 2016 campaign, Mnuchin served as Treasury secretary for the entirety of the Republican’s administration.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
Zodiac Ball The Children’s Oncology Support Fund hosted the inaugural Zodiac Ball on Thursday in Los Angeles, hosted by Brooke Burke alongside vice chairs for the evening Barron N. Hilton and Tessa Hilton.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2023
She’s seated in a white leather chair in an empty photo studio, her legs tucked beneath her and her signature orange ’fro complementing a fluorescent-pink hoodie.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2023
The House Oversight Committee, which Comer chairs, had previously interviewed Hunter’s ex-business partner Devon Archer, touting his testimony as the thing that would finally break the dam open.
—Tori Otten, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2023
Like other college students, his nether regions were at the mercy of the unforgiving plastic chairs often found in the library and residence halls.
—Laurie Saloman, Verywell Health, 28 Sep. 2023
The folding chair is designed to support up to 500 pounds, and it’s made to fit two people.
—Casey Clark, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
Though many of the furniture pieces, like the sofa and the yellow chair in the office, were designed by Younis and custom-made, this home isn’t precious in any way.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023
Verb
Before dropping out, LaRose had been a prominent advocate for ERIC, and one of his top deputies chaired the organization last year.
—cleveland, 14 Sep. 2023
Back in Chico, Hambley now chairs the Northern Valley Harm Reduction Coalition, which Hambley helped grow in the wake of the Camp Fire, determined to continue the collective approach to harm reduction that came out of that disaster.
—Popular Science, 14 Sep. 2023
Images of the king chairing emergency cabinet meetings were shared on social media.
—Claire Parker, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
Facing intense pressure to reconsider the vote — and after enduring death threats — Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, the Los Angeles Democrat who chairs the Public Safety Committee, called for a new hearing on the measure, and it was promptly passed.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
After private deliberation, the decision was read by Brendan Kelly, the Illinois State Police director who chairs the waiver review committee.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2023
That includes talking about legislation with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate and chairing a working group consisting of people across the country who live near active and decommissioned commercial power plants such as SONGS.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2023
In this festive vignette, Burnett’s Boards adds a a sweet touch to wooden dining room chairs with a small wreath and neutral ribbon.
—Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 18 Aug. 2023
There’s also the question mark raised by a hawkish Federal Trade Commission, chaired by Lina Khan, who’s made her aversion to tech mergers the foundation of her career.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2023
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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.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English chaiere, from Anglo-French, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- cata- + hedra seat — more at sit
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of chair was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing chair
Dictionary Entries Near chair
Cite this Entry
“Chair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chair. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
chair
nounˈche(ə)r,
ˈcha(ə)r
1
: a seat with legs and a back for use by one person
2
a
: an official seat or a seat of authority or honor
b
: an office or position of authority or honor
c
: an official who conducts a meeting
More from Merriam-Webster on chair
Nglish: Translation of chair for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of chair for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chair
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