chess

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈches 

: a game for 2 players each of whom moves 16 pieces according to fixed rules across a checkerboard and tries to checkmate the opponent's king

Illustration of chess

• chessboard with chess pieces arranged as at the beginning of a game

chess

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a weedy annual European bromegrass (Bromus secalinus) widely naturalized in North America as a weed especially in grain

2

: any of several weedy bromegrasses related to chess

Examples of chess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two friends are playing chess, while a laptop is open on another table. — Patricia Huon, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026

On the personal front — Kubrick’s estate and film archives is involved in the auction — the filmmaker’s director’s chair, Venice Film Festival Golden Lion lifetime achievement award, viewfinder, chess set and more will also be available. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2026

Baker, who loves to move his players around like a chess grandmaster, had Bryant playing middle in the season opener and sophomore Claire Rooney at setter. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

The government has supported the initiative alongside the International Chess Federation, known as FIDE, Chess Kenya and The Gift of Chess, a nonprofit organization that distributes chess sets. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chesse, ches, esches, borrowed from Anglo-French escheks, eschez "game of chess" — more at check entry 2

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1736, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chess

• chess pie

Rhymes for chess

• bless
• cress
• dress
• es
• ess
• esse
• fess
• guess
• jess
• less
• lesse
• mess

Kids Definition

chess

noun

ˈches

: a game for two players each of whom plays with 16 pieces on a checkerboard

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ches "game of chess," from early French eschés (same meaning), literally, "checks," from eschec "check" — related to check, checker