chief 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchēf How to pronounce chief (audio)
Definition of chiefnext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget

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2
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority the chief administrator will be retiring soon

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chief

2 of 2

noun

1
as in body
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son

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2
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do our chief is out on a business trip right now

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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 chief
Adjective
The city’s chief civilian police watchdog is sidelined after he was placed on administrative leave this week, though clarity on what prompted the decision remains behind closed doors. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 The company’s chief financial officer, Bret Johnsen, said to expect similar capital expenditures for the next two quarters. — Bernard Condon, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
The iPhone maker sued OpenAI and its hardware chief in July, upending a relationship between two companies that worked together as partners in recent years. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026 During the attack, an off-duty state trooper and a civilian fired on Williams and diverted him from the restaurant, the chief said. — Michael Biesecker, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
  1. main
  2. foremost
  3. body
  4. leader
  5. primary
  6. commanding
  7. core
  8. boss
Adjective
  • Speaking to voters Of course, there are skeptics everywhere in this arena, not least concerning the two main protagonists.
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This main event headlines the first PBC world title fight of the new DAZN era, also broadcast on Prime Video.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Today, perhaps the foremost image of a moderate is that of a centrist on a left-right spectrum.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Briggs, the architect, built a reputation for bespoke luxury homes along the Orange County coast and was named among Architectural Digest’s 100 foremost architects in 1991, according to background materials from the listing team.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of foremost
Noun
  • Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • North and Central America and Caribbean governing body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have both criticized the FIFA president and rejected the plan.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of body
Noun
  • Chennai claimed him as Thala, a Tamil word meaning leader that functions as something closer to a title of devotion.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The 23-year-old finished one place and just over one second behind her team’s co-leader Elisa Longo Borghini — and 18 seconds ahead of her other leader Dominika Włodarczyk.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of leader
Adjective
  • The company has committed to investing at least $1 billion to construct one roughly 300,000-square-foot facility, but the campus could expand to include up to five primary buildings, officials have said.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Whether Castillo and Gausman can return to form and help their respective clubs get deep into October will be a primary storyline here the rest of the year.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • In neighboring Wisconsin, Francesca Hong, who previously aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, has what appears to be a commanding lead in the gubernatorial primary.
    — Tamara Keith, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Eventually, Skubal morphed into the game’s best and most commanding pitcher.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of commanding
Noun
  • Instead, having a consistent, longer-term core should help Carrick further develop this United side’s tactical identity, improve the players already at his disposal, and allow cohesion and team spirit to grow naturally.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Chapman, 33, should know Monday the severity of a hernia and a core muscle tear in his right abdomen.
    — Devin Bradshaw, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • The former Bournemouth boss has been hired to untangle Liverpool’s squad.
    — Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • According to the lawsuits, Hart disclosed his conviction and a pornography addiction to his new bosses at Crossline.
    — Sean Emery, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of boss

Phrases Containing chief

Browse Nearby Words

chiding
chief
chief justice
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Cite this Entry

“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chief

Nglish: Translation of chief for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chief

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