preside over

phrasal verb

presided over; presiding over; presides over
1
: to be in charge of something (such as a meeting or organization)
The vice president presided over the meeting.
The Chief Justice presides over the Supreme Court.
He has presided over the company for 15 years.
2
: to be in charge of a country, company, etc., during (a particular time or activity)
She presided over a period of relative peace and prosperity.

Examples of preside over 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.
Chef Lindsey also presides over a composting program for the entire property, which helps reduce waste and create a more sustainable environment. David Duran, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Jan. 2026 Senior District Judge George Gallagher, a former Tarrant County judge who was asked to preside over the case, then began the lengthy process of questioning each person who had raised their hand. Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026 On Wednesday, Cornish, 51, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by 3rd District Judge Gabriel McCarthy, who presides over cases in Canyon County. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026 Perplexingly the role of the judge who presided over the original 1983 case is underdeveloped. Beandrea July, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preside over

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preside over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preside%20over. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!