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

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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

• frustrate
• thwart
• baffle
• defeat
• hamper

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

Democrats’ goal: Nab five potential new Democratic seats in the U.S. House to checkmate Texas Republicans’ strategy to redistrict a path to five additional GOP seats ahead of next year’s midterm contests. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 20 Aug. 2025

Losing a game of chess is never fun; however, setting aflame a custom wax king piece when checkmated is losing with style. —Ayah Imran, Freep.com, 17 July 2025

Noun

Yes, the Phils nabbed a checkmate closer (Jhoan Duran). —Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025

In that case, however, Anand managed to secure a checkmate after 29 days of play. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chekmaten "to checkmate (the king in chess), frustrate," derivative of chekmat checkmate entry 2

Noun

Middle English chekmat, from chek mate, interjection used in chess to announce that an opponent's king cannot escape, borrowed from Anglo-French eschec mat (continental Old French eschec et mat), from eschec "announcement in chess that an opponent's king is in check, check entry 2" + mat "move by which the king is checkmated, (of a player) having one's king checkmated," borrowed from Arabic māt, borrowed from Persian, "left, at a loss, helpless," variant of mānd, verbal adjective from māndan "to remain," going back to Middle Persian mān-, going back to Old Persian mān-, as in amānaya "(s/he) awaited" — more at mansion

Note: Arabic māt has also been taken as application of a native word meaning "(s/he) has died," from the root m-w-t "die." More plausibly this is a folk-etymological analysis of the Persian word, given the predominance of Persian in Arabic chess terminology. See M. E. Moghadam, "A Note on the Etymology of the Word Checkmate," Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 58, no. 4 (December, 1938), pp. 662-64.

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

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

Rhymes for checkmate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

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