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

Inside, a library and living room invite guests to sit and play a game of chess or rest by a large crackling fire. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026

Last year, a commitment to figuring out how to win each game’s evolving chess aided a run to 90 wins despite an offense that was painfully short of home run power. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026

Just looking at the chess of this all, obviously the world is waiting to see if Paramount Skydance raises its bid. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026

They were treated like pawns in a JEA chess game, played and discarded. —Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union, 20 Feb. 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