chest

noun

ˈchest 

1

a

: a container for storage or shipping

especially : a box with a lid used especially for the safekeeping of belongings

b

: a cupboard used especially for the storing of medicines or first-aid supplies

2

: the place where money of a public institution is kept : treasury

also : the fund so kept

3

a

: thorax sense 1

especially : the part of the human body enclosed by the ribs and sternum

b

: breast sense 2a

a hairy chest

chestful

ˈchest-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Synonyms

• bin
• box
• caddy
• case
• casket
• locker
• trunk

Examples of chest in a Sentence

He has a broad chest.

The pain is in my upper chest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Effects of moderate ground-level ozone can be chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion, according to Metroplan. —Harley Walls, Arkansas Online, 16 May 2025

This happens frequently for symptoms like chest pain, abdominal pain when appendicitis could be a risk, or severe injuries, Leybov says. —Sarah Klein, Time, 15 May 2025

Officers separated the pair and saw multiple bite marks on the man’s chest and arms, according to the police report. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025

Moments before her death, Marquez was seen on her TikTok livestream speaking to a man off camera when she was shot once in the chest and once in the head, and collapsed. —Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cest, cist chest, box, from Latin cista, from Greek kistē basket, hamper

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chest

• blanket chest
• chest of drawers
• chest-thumping
• community chest
• get (something) off one's chest
• hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest
• hope chest
• medicine chest
• play/hold/keep one's cards close to the/one's chest/vest
• sea chest
• slop chest
• steam chest
• treasure chest
• war chest

Rhymes for chest

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• crest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest
• messed

Kids Definition

chest

noun

ˈchest 

1

: a container (as a box or case) for storing, safekeeping, or shipping

tool chest

linen chest

2

: a public fund

community chest

3

: the part of the body enclosed by the ribs and sternum

chested

ˈches-təd

adjective

chestful

ˈchest-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Medical Definition

chest

noun

ˈchest 

1

: medicine chest

2

: the part of the body enclosed by the ribs and sternum