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

Saints corner Alontae Taylor could be that chess piece. —Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026

Could this decidedly weird video somehow be some kind of 3D chess, outrage bait marketing ploy? —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026

Untold is a four-episode docuseries that follows four standalone stories about insane moments in sports, such as the 2024 chess match between Hans Niemann and Magnus Carlsen. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026

Lots of games to choose from such as Mexican Train, American Mahjongg or learn how to play chess. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 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