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

The reason to play a nice game of chess instead, likewise, is always each other. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

People with brain damage can lose the ability to understand or speak words yet still do math, play chess and compose music. — George Musser, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026

Born out of the study of games like chess or poker, game theory is used to help understand complex economic and geopolitical issues, where there are individual actors thinking rationally about what’s best for them. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Tech companies are racing to develop and train elder care robots to handle tasks ranging from giving massages to playing chess. — Huiyee Chiew and Lyric Li The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 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