catbird seat

noun

Definition of catbird seatnext
1
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition your fluency in French should put you in the catbird seat for getting the Paris posting

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in center stage
the center of public attention in the wake of the natural disaster, this obscure bureaucrat was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the catbird seat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of catbird seat Carter Jensen always dreamed of sitting in the catbird seat at Kauffman Stadium. — Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025 Mom, who’d just flown from Washington state to the Big Apple, fist-pumped her way to a catbird seat on Cloud 9. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2025 With memory giants like Samsung and SK Hynix cranking up production to keep pace with Nvidia’s Blackwell ramp, Lam is sitting in the catbird seat. — John Buckingham, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 The catbird seats were occupied instead by the titans of attention. — Ezra Klein, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for catbird seat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catbird seat
  1. advantage
  2. center stage
  3. edge
  4. spotlight
  5. upper hand
  6. top billing
  7. limelight
  8. attention
Noun
  • That kept the sales momentum rolling, but at the loss of the Neo’s financial advantages.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Chelsea failed to qualify for a European competition, but Gittens believes the extra chance to rest and prepare could be an advantage.
    — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of advantage
Noun
  • The biggest lesson from the 2026 World Cup is not that B2B brands are jostling for center stage with B2C sponsors.
    — Nikos Lemanis, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Jalen Brunson was on center stage in New York again Wednesday, this time for a trio of ovations at the 2026 ESPY Awards.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 16 July 2026
Definition of center stage
Noun
  • Connection feels safer when nobody has to guess where the edge is.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2026
  • Lake Michigan is its main shoreline, though the northern edge also touches the Black River, a popular spot for kayakers and boaters, who can tie up at the waterfront restaurants.
    — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • After spending most of his career working hard in a sport that barely registers any level of attention in the wider world, Ainslie welcomes the brighter — but also harsher — spotlight that this seven-year-old league is shining on sailboat racing.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The room, finished in Domingue lime paint, is illuminated by a 1950s Isamu Noguchi Akari floor lamp and surface-mount spotlights by Lucifer Lighting.
    — Punch Hutton, Architectural Digest, 24 July 2026
Definition of spotlight
Noun
  • But Ukraine looks more and more likely to be entering the next round of negotiations with a strong upper hand.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
  • The first one will give one team an upper hand, but obviously can’t dictate the entire series.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Definition of upper hand
Noun
  • Spencer and Waddingham, both executive producers on the series, never sought top billing over the other.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • Does James really want to share top billing on his farewell tour with the likes of Steph Curry, Jaylen Brown or James Harden?
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of top billing
Noun
  • Following a very public and increasingly acrimonious falling out with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of chemicals giant INEOS who bankrolled Ainslie’s two previous Cup campaigns, this is a level of limelight Ainslie could do without.
    — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Kristen’s husband’s life was full of glamour and limelight, whereas her life was all behind the scenes.
    — Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of limelight
Noun
  • As much as the Dolphins will be focused on the run as an offense, the defense should pay the same attention – if not more.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • Public health cannot operate as a reactionary system that receives attention only during emergencies.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of attention

Browse Nearby Words

catatonic
catbird seat
catbird seats
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Catbird seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catbird%20seat. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on catbird seat

Nglish: Translation of catbird seat for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of comely

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All