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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The game of musical chairs marks the first major staff shake up of the second Trump administration and comes just after the president marked 100 days back in the White House. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025 The fashion world has been playing musical chairs over the past few months, with many houses experiencing some of the shortest creative director tenures to date. Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 The musical chairs continued throughout February, but Bologna held on to their position at the top of Serie A. Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025 That’s a tad too many and playing musical chairs with coaches at this point — regardless of who is available — isn’t a smart play at all. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for musical chairs

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of musical chairs was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Musical chairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musical%20chairs. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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