presided; presiding
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
a
: to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairperson, or moderator
b
: to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairperson
3
: to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer
—usually used with at
presided at the organ
presider
noun
Examples of preside in a Sentence
Court is now in session, Justice Raul Fernandez presiding.
Recent Examples on the Web
Having blurted out my enthusiasm for all things James Joyce (hardly original among visitors to Dublin), I was promptly steered in the direction of PJ Murphy, proprietor and presiding genius of Sweny’s, a former pharmacy on Lombard Street, not far from the hotel.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
In his letter, Scola wrote that the presiding judge should compel Pearson to provide the records in question and place the discovery processes under court supervision.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Judge Roderick Shelton was elected to serve as assistant presiding judge for the next two years.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
For decades, the presiding bishop was a member of Opus Dei, a traditionalist movement, founded in Spain in 1928, that has thrived in Latin America.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preside
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
In his letter, Scola wrote that the presiding judge should compel Pearson to provide the records in question and place the discovery processes under court supervision.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
Judge Roderick Shelton was elected to serve as assistant presiding judge for the next two years.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
For decades, the presiding bishop was a member of Opus Dei, a traditionalist movement, founded in Spain in 1928, that has thrived in Latin America.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preside
Cite this Entry
“Preside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preside. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preside
verb
pre·side
pri-ˈzīd 
presided; presiding
1
: to be in the place of authority : act as president, chairperson, or moderator
preside over a meeting
2
: to be in charge
Legal Definition
preside
intransitive verb
pre·side
pri-ˈzīd
presided; presiding
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
: to occupy the place of authority : direct or regulate proceedings as chief officer
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