checkmate

1 of 2

verb

check·​mate ˈchek-ˌmāt 

checkmated; checkmating; checkmates

transitive verb

1

: to arrest, thwart, or counter completely

2

: to check (a chess opponent's king) so that escape is impossible

checkmate

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of checkmating

b

: the situation of a checkmated king

2

: a complete check

Did you know?

Figurative Checkmate and Other Chess Terms

Checkmate is one of the most recognizable words from the world of chess. It is often found both in its original sense (referring to the placing of an opponent’s king in an inescapable position) and in a figurative one (“to thwart”). But it is just one of a number of words in English that that either originated in, or gained popularity from, the game of chess before developing an extended metaphorical sense.

End game may refer to the final stages of a game of chess or to the final stage of other actions or processes. Gambit initially had the sole meaning “a chess opening in which a player voluntarily risks one or more pawns or a minor piece to gain an advantage in position” but now may also signify “a calculated move, maneuver, or device.” And pawn has developed the sense “one that can be used often to his own disadvantage to further the purposes of another” from its original designation as the least powerful piece on the chess board.

Synonyms

Verb

• baffle
• balk
• beat
• discomfit
• foil
• frustrate
• thwart

Examples of checkmate in a Sentence

Verb

finally checkmated the billionaire in his attempt to take over the movie studio

Noun

a brilliant move that resulted in checkmate

The challenger can force a checkmate with his next move.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Put more simply: Trump has checkmated Murdoch, clearing one more hurdle standing in his way on the path to the White House. —Oliver Darcy, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024

Content by this author: Letter From The Islamist Challenge to Jokowi Indonesian President Joko Widodo appears to have checkmated the hard-line Islamists demanding the jailing of Jakarta’s governor. —Simon Roughneen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2016

Noun

So the Olympics, okay, that’s checkmate, that’s the moment an athlete dreams about. —Maya Singer, Vogue, 9 July 2024

Perhaps then, there will be a vibe shift in the workplace next year with a clear winner who turns the stalemate into a checkmate. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chekmaten, from chekmate, interjection used to announce checkmate, from Anglo-French eschec mat, from Arabic shāh māt, from Persian, literally, the king is left unable to escape

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

checkmate

1 of 2 verb

check·​mate ˈchek-ˌmāt 

1

: to block completely : thwart

2

: to check a chess opponent's king so that escape is impossible

checkmate

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of checkmating

b

: the situation of a checkmated king

2

: a complete check