2
: a natural or artificial enclosed space or cavity
3
a
: a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body
the senate chamber
b
: a room where a judge transacts business
—usually used in plural
c
: the reception room of a person of rank or authority
4
a
: a legislative or judicial body
especially
: either of the houses of a bicameral legislature
b
: a voluntary board or council
5
a
: the part of the bore of a gun that holds the charge
b
: a compartment in the cartridge cylinder of a revolver
chambered; chambering
ˈchām-b(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to place in or as if in a chamber : house
2
: to serve as a chamber for
especially
: to accommodate in the chamber of a firearm
: being, relating to, or performing chamber music
Synonyms
Examples of chamber in a Sentence
Noun
If the batteries are not properly installed in the chamber of the remote control, it won't work.
There are four chambers in the human heart.
We waited for the senator outside the Senate chamber.
The U.S. legislature is separated into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Verb
chambered the lost hikers in the barn until the next morning
Recent Examples on the Web
Isabella Murray, ABC News, 24 Nov. 2023
When Swezey offered up his home chamber in the 1950s, its use seemed somewhat practical.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 23 Nov. 2023
Admission is free to chamber members bringing a new, unwrapped toy.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
Traditionally, the first few bills filed in each chamber signal the agendas of each party’s leadership.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Best Nightlife Fisher Center Located at Bard College, about 10 miles away, the Fisher Center hosts chamber, choral, and orchestral performances, as well as other arts programming and discussions.
—Wendy O’Dea, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
The Liberty Advances Party has only a small block in each house of Congress, while the Peronist party has the largest group in each chamber.
—David Unsworth, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2023
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP The Senate election in the Buckeye State next year is one of the key races the GOP has been focusing on in its bid to retake control of the upper chamber of Congress.
—Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2023
The judge was supposed to invite him to her chambers for a personal meeting.
—Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023
Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023
Depending on the chambering, the rifle weighs 6.2 to 6.4 pounds.
—Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023
It was chambered in the new M14 U.S. Service Rifle in 1957 and saw duty in Korea and Vietnam, with soldiers undoubtedly appreciating its lighter recoil.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 5 July 2023
Bang sticks, most of which are chambered for .357 or .44 Magnum cartridges, are also popular, and mandatory in some states.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 1 June 2023
Magnum revolver bullet will not fit in a Glock pistol chambered in .357 SIG.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 15 Apr. 2023
The lever-action M1895 Winchester was the first commercial rifle ever chambered for .30/06.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2023
But some semiautos chambered for 3 1/2-inch shells struggle to cycle very light loads used for dove hunting and target shooting.
—Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
Access to the memorial, including the steps and chamber with the statue of Abraham Lincoln, will remain open to the public during the construction.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2023
Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023
Brennan immediately dictated a note, and a terse exchange of letters on the afternoon of March 27, 1978, sent to the entire conference—all justices receiving a copy—may mark a low point in the history of intra-chamber correspondence at the Supreme Court.
—J.c. Hallman, The New Republic, 11 June 2020
With less than a week and a half left in the legislative session, bills to crack down on police officers with histories of misconduct have been caught in the crosshairs of inter-chamber tensions and are in danger of not passing.
—James Barragán, San Antonio Express-News, 21 May 2021
One of those plugs incorporates a passive pre-chamber ignition system.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2020
If there is any doubt of this technology's value, know that Formula 1 engines use pre-chamber ignition.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2020
Maserati has employed a dual-spark-plug configuration with an innovative pre-chamber combustion system integrated into the cylinder heads.
—David Beard, Car and Driver, 2 July 2020
See More
Noun
Republicans see a lot more opportunity to win the chamber.
—Isabella Murray, ABC News, 24 Nov. 2023
When Swezey offered up his home chamber in the 1950s, its use seemed somewhat practical.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 23 Nov. 2023
Admission is free to chamber members bringing a new, unwrapped toy.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
Traditionally, the first few bills filed in each chamber signal the agendas of each party’s leadership.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Best Nightlife Fisher Center Located at Bard College, about 10 miles away, the Fisher Center hosts chamber, choral, and orchestral performances, as well as other arts programming and discussions.
—Wendy O’Dea, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
The Liberty Advances Party has only a small block in each house of Congress, while the Peronist party has the largest group in each chamber.
—David Unsworth, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2023
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP The Senate election in the Buckeye State next year is one of the key races the GOP has been focusing on in its bid to retake control of the upper chamber of Congress.
—Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2023
The judge was supposed to invite him to her chambers for a personal meeting.
—Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
The rifle is chambered for seven popular cartridges.
—Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023
Depending on the chambering, the rifle weighs 6.2 to 6.4 pounds.
—Mike Dickerson, Field & Stream, 19 July 2023
It was chambered in the new M14 U.S. Service Rifle in 1957 and saw duty in Korea and Vietnam, with soldiers undoubtedly appreciating its lighter recoil.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 5 July 2023
Bang sticks, most of which are chambered for .357 or .44 Magnum cartridges, are also popular, and mandatory in some states.
—Will Brantley, Field & Stream, 1 June 2023
Magnum revolver bullet will not fit in a Glock pistol chambered in .357 SIG.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 15 Apr. 2023
The lever-action M1895 Winchester was the first commercial rifle ever chambered for .30/06.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2023
But some semiautos chambered for 3 1/2-inch shells struggle to cycle very light loads used for dove hunting and target shooting.
—Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023
Access to the memorial, including the steps and chamber with the statue of Abraham Lincoln, will remain open to the public during the construction.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2023
Adjective
And what sort of legislative horse trading will have to happen to make the always-complex inter-chamber politics between the House and Senate work?
—Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023
Brennan immediately dictated a note, and a terse exchange of letters on the afternoon of March 27, 1978, sent to the entire conference—all justices receiving a copy—may mark a low point in the history of intra-chamber correspondence at the Supreme Court.
—J.c. Hallman, The New Republic, 11 June 2020
With less than a week and a half left in the legislative session, bills to crack down on police officers with histories of misconduct have been caught in the crosshairs of inter-chamber tensions and are in danger of not passing.
—James Barragán, San Antonio Express-News, 21 May 2021
One of those plugs incorporates a passive pre-chamber ignition system.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2020
If there is any doubt of this technology's value, know that Formula 1 engines use pre-chamber ignition.
—Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 9 Sep. 2020
Maserati has employed a dual-spark-plug configuration with an innovative pre-chamber combustion system integrated into the cylinder heads.
—David Beard, Car and Driver, 2 July 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chamber.' 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 chambre, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin camera, from Latin, arched roof, from Greek kamara vault
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1706, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of chamber was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing chamber
Articles Related to chamber
Dictionary Entries Near chamber
Cite this Entry
“Chamber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chamber. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
chamber
1 of 2 noun
cham·ber
ˈchām-bər
1
: a room in a house and especially a bedroom
2
: an enclosed space or compartment
the chamber of a pistol
the chambers of the heart
3
a
: a meeting hall of a government body (as an assembly)
b
: a room where a judge conducts business out of court
—usually used in plural
4
a
: a group of people organized into a lawmaking body
the lower chamber of the legislature
b
: a board or council of volunteers (as businesspeople)
Etymology
Noun
Middle English chambre "chamber," from early French chambre (same meaning), from Latin camera "room, chamber" — related to camera
Medical Definition
chamber
noun
cham·ber
ˈchām-bər
: an enclosed space within the body of an animal see anterior chamber, posterior chamber, pulp chamber, vitreous chamber
Legal Definition
chamber
noun
cham·ber
1
: a judge's office
specifically
: the private office where a judge carries on business other than court sessions (as conferences or signing papers)
—usually used in pl.
four other judges met in my chambers —R. H. Bork
R. H. Bork a hearing in chambers
2
a
: a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body or assembly
to run back into the House chamber—Tip O'Neill
Tip O'Neill
b
: a legislative or judicial body : house
More from Merriam-Webster on chamber
Nglish: Translation of chamber for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of chamber for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share