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

Trailblazer Tomoka Nishiyama has become the first female kishi – a professional player of shogi, a Japanese board game often compared to chess. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 28 Oct. 2026

Granted access to key players, Mezrich takes a deep dive into the personalities behind this history-making chapter in the game of chess. — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026

The subtle chess move could further stick in the craw of certain figures who expressed criticism and disappointment amid Kendrick’s performance two years prior. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Stopping rogue superintelligence Soares compared his confidence to playing chess against the Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 27 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