chair

noun \ ˈcher \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: chair in a Sentence

Definition of chair

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 : chairman 1

3 : a sedan chair

4 : a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk; specifically : the position of a player in an orchestra or band

5 : any of various devices that hold up or support

See chair defined for English-language learners

See chair defined for kids

Examples of chair in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of chair from the Web

Cowley, who is accused of throwing a chair at the bus, was charged with criminal mischief, assault and reckless endangerment.

— jason hanna, CNN, "Conor McGregor expresses regret over bus brawl after brief court appearance," 14 June 2018
Each patient room has a padded window ledge, a monitor and a kangaroo chair.

— libby solomon, baltimoresun.com, "Comfort and kangaroo care in GBMC's renovated NICU," 13 June 2018
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 50, shared a photo of her husband, 63, leaning against a chair inside of a hospital room with his arms crossed.

— alexia fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "RHOA's NeNe Leakes Reveals Husband Gregg Has Cancer: 'The Fight Begins'," 13 June 2018
Minnie, down in Australia, gets a snuggly fleece pouch and a handmade sling that can hang on the back of a chair for office scenarios.

— alejandra borunda, National Geographic, "Why Rescued Kangaroo Joeys Need Handmade Pouches," 13 June 2018
The results from dust on a chair measured 1,700 micrograms of lead per square foot — 42 times higher than the federal hazard level for residential floors.

— barbara laker, Philly.com, "School District cleans Olney Elementary after 10.7 million asbestos fibers found," 8 June 2018
Instead, the host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, could issue a less-formal chair’s statement.

— arne delfs, Bloomberg.com, "G-7 Leaders Race to Salvage Consensus," 8 June 2018
There is also a massage chair available for their use. 13.

— azcentral, "Top Companies to Work for in Arizona-Small Companies," 7 June 2018
Bring a chair or blanket for home games for the Blue Island Brewmasters’ second season of ball games as played in 1858.

— vickie snow jurkowski, Daily Southtown, "5 things to do with Dad on Father's Day weekend," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chair

Middle English chaiere, from Anglo-French, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- cata- + hedra seat — more at sit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

chair Synonyms

Synonyms

driver's seat, head, headship, helm, rein(s);

Near Antonyms

ranks;

forefront, lead, vanguard;

captainship, chairmanship, deanship, dictatorship, generalship, governorship, kingship, mastership, mastery, premiership, presidency, presidentship, superintendency;

dominance, dominion, jurisdiction, sovereignty (also sovranty), sway, upper hand;

eminence, height, pedestal, pinnacle, seat, throne, top;

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

chair

verb

Definition of chair

chaired; chairing; chairs

transitive verb

1 : to install in office

2 chiefly British : to carry on the shoulders in acclaim

we chaired you through the market place
—A. E. Housman

3 : to preside as chairman of

See chair defined for English-language learners

Examples of chair in a Sentence

He's been chosen to chair the task force on school violence.

Recent Examples of chair from the Web

Public documents describe Columbus Nova as the US affiliate of the Russian investment company Renova Group, which is chaired by Viktor Vekselberg, who is a cousin of Andrew and Frederick Intrater.

— curt devine and jose pagliery, CNN, "Alt-right web domain names registered to company that paid Cohen," 10 May 2018
The Knight Commission’s meeting and recommendations come in the wake of a report and recommendations from the Commission on College Basketball, which was chaired by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

— steve berkowitz, USA TODAY, "Mom of Duke's Wendell Carter says NCAA system resembles 'slavery and the prison system'," 7 May 2018
The Justice Department cited a meeting in July 2015—just weeks before Volkswagen admitted to the diesel cheat—that was chaired by Mr. Winterkorn.

— william boston, WSJ, "U.S. Indictment of Former VW Chief Makes Hardly a Ripple in Germany," 4 May 2018
The Board of Control, which is chaired by County Executive Armond Budish and includes members of Budish's administration and County Council appointees, approves or rejects contracts up to $500,000.

— peter krouse, cleveland.com, "IT company cited in subpoena says Cuyahoga County abruptly ended contract negotiations in 2017," 4 May 2018
Ross is a member of the National Space Council, which is chaired by Vice President Mike Pence.

— josh rogin, star-telegram, "Will space be the next "big battleground"? | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 4 May 2018
Part of the restructuring plan was creating the nine-member financial review commission, which is chaired by state Treasurer Nick Khouri and includes Duggan, state Budget Director John Walsh and former Detroit police Chief Isaiah McKinnon.

— corey williams, chicagotribune.com, "3 years out of bankruptcy, Detroit released from state financial oversight," 30 Apr. 2018
Part of the restructuring plan was creating the nine-member financial review commission, which is chaired by state Treasurer Nick Khouri and includes Duggan, state Budget Director John Walsh and former Detroit police Chief Isaiah McKinnon.

— Fox News, "Detroit released from active state oversight of finances," 30 Apr. 2018
The new WebAuthn standard is a joint effort between the World Wide Web Consortium (WC3) and the FIDO Alliance, which is made up of a variety of tech and finance companies and is chaired by online identity experts.

— lauren goode, WIRED, "Our Password-Free Future Is Near (But Not Really)," 19 Apr. 2018