musical chairs
noun
plural in form but singular in construction
: a game in which players march to music around a row of chairs numbering one less than the players and scramble for seats when the music stops
also
: a situation or series of events suggesting the game of musical chairs (as in rapid change or confusing activity)
Examples of musical chairs in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The selection of Mäkelä arrives amid a chaotic game of musical chairs across major American orchestras.
—
Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
The fashion world’s been spinning recently, as designers for some of the world’s major luxury labels engage in an extended game of musical chairs.
—Merle Ginsberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024
But if Darnold is left standing in the game of quarterback musical chairs, there are worse jobs than being Purdy’s backup.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Soon enough, everyone was playing a game of musical chairs, dropping by friends' tables to chat about the NYFW fall 2024 debuts and the long month ahead.
—Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
After a game of NFL musical chairs that saw the Rams and the Chargers land in Los Angeles, $750 million in public funding toward the $1.9 billion construction of Allegiant Stadium enticed the Raiders to leave Oakland for the 2020 season.
—Brett Knight, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
To circumvent this awkward game of musical chairs, some lines offer premium deck spaces that all passengers—regardless of cabin category—can access for a nominal fee.
—Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2024
The musical chairs may leave diners wondering: What’s going on in the city’s vegan food scene?
Julia Simon, owner of the former Plant Joy stall at Camp North End, has some ideas about why vegan places might be closing across the country.
—Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
First, the women played musical chairs to determine who would sit next to Joey at the sweetheart table.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024
Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
The fashion world’s been spinning recently, as designers for some of the world’s major luxury labels engage in an extended game of musical chairs.
—Merle Ginsberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2024
But if Darnold is left standing in the game of quarterback musical chairs, there are worse jobs than being Purdy’s backup.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Soon enough, everyone was playing a game of musical chairs, dropping by friends' tables to chat about the NYFW fall 2024 debuts and the long month ahead.
—Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024
After a game of NFL musical chairs that saw the Rams and the Chargers land in Los Angeles, $750 million in public funding toward the $1.9 billion construction of Allegiant Stadium enticed the Raiders to leave Oakland for the 2020 season.
—Brett Knight, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
To circumvent this awkward game of musical chairs, some lines offer premium deck spaces that all passengers—regardless of cabin category—can access for a nominal fee.
—Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2024
The musical chairs may leave diners wondering: What’s going on in the city’s vegan food scene?
Julia Simon, owner of the former Plant Joy stall at Camp North End, has some ideas about why vegan places might be closing across the country.
—Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
First, the women played musical chairs to determine who would sit next to Joey at the sweetheart table.
—Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'musical chairs.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near musical chairs
Cite this Entry
“Musical chairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musical%20chairs. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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