king

noun

ˈkiŋ 

1

a

: a male monarch of a major territorial unit

especially : one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life

b

: a paramount chief

2

capitalized : god, christ

… to worship the King, the Lord of hosts …

—Zechariah 14:16 (Revised Standard Version)

3

: one that holds a preeminent position

especially : a chief among competitors

the cattle kings rode up from the south

—Alan Moorehead

even if no longer king, cotton remains the chief cash crop

—Howell Walker

4

: the principal piece of each color in chess having the power to move ordinarily one square in any direction and to capture opposing pieces but being obliged never to enter or remain in check

5

: a playing card marked with a stylized figure of a king

6

: a checker that has been crowned

7

: chinook salmon

Synonyms

• baron
• captain
• czar
• tsar
• tzar
• lion
• lord
• magnate
• mogul
• monarch
• Napoleon
• prince
• tycoon

Examples of king in a Sentence

He pledged his loyalty to the king and queen.

the reign of King James

He became king at a young age.

He's widely regarded as the king of soul music.

He was voted king of the prom.

The lion is known as the king of the jungle.

She won the game by checkmating his king.

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Recent Examples on the Web

It’s been nearly two years since Álvarez scored a stoppage win to become the super middleweight king. —Manouk Akopyan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2023

The hotel owes its legendary status to its rich history, having stood through the reigns of two French kings, the French Revolution, the rise and fall of the Napoleonic Empire and the birth of the League of Nations. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 29 Sep. 2023

Kelley House is the largest, with a number of king and double rooms and suites. —Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2023

That bycatch includes king and chum salmon, crab, halibut, and other species. —Outdoor Life, 28 Sep. 2023

One post likened Congress politicians to Tipu Sultan, an 18th-century Muslim king who is often vilified for allegedly butchering Hindus. —Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023

Declarer ruffed and led a heart to the queen and king. —Bobby Wolff, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2023

Brett Anderson In the Big Sky State, the steakhouse is still king. —Melissa Clark, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023

Here's a breakdown of the Passover story that may be appropriate for telling children: Over 3000 years ago, a wicked Egyptian king forced the ancient Jewish people (the Israelites) to toil in the heat constructing buildings and carrying massive bricks. —Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 17 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cyning; akin to Old High German kuning king, Old English cynn kin

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing king

• king cake
• drag king
• king cobra
• king penguin
• king crab
• fit for a king
• king's evil
• king salmon
• king-size
• king snake
• sea king
• scarlet king snake
• turn king's evidence
• à la king
• Alaskan king crab
• king mackerel
• king's ransom
• king of arms
• king post
• king-sized

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• king cake
• drag king
• king cobra
• king penguin
• king crab
• fit for a king
• king's evil
• king salmon
• king-size
• king snake
• sea king
• scarlet king snake
• turn king's evidence
• à la king
• Alaskan king crab
• king mackerel
• king's ransom
• king of arms
• king post
• king-sized

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Kids Definition

king

noun

ˈkiŋ 

1

: a male ruler of a country who usually inherits his position and rules for life

2

: a chief among competitors

an oil king

3

: the chief piece in the game of chess

4

: a playing card bearing the figure of a king

5

: a piece in the game of checkers that has reached the opponent's back row and has been crowned

Biographical Definition

King 1 of 8

biographical name (1)

ˈkiŋ 

B. B. 1925–2015 originally Riley B. King American blues musician

King

2 of 8

biographical name (2)

Billie Jean 1943–     née Moffitt American tennis player

King

3 of 8

biographical name (3)

Ernest Joseph 1878–1956 American admiral

King

4 of 8

biographical name (4)

Martin Luther, Jr. 1929–1968 American clergyman and civil rights leader

King

5 of 8

biographical name (5)

Rufus 1755–1827 American politician and diplomat

King

6 of 8

biographical name (6)

Stephen (Edwin) 1947–     American writer

King

7 of 8

biographical name (7)

William Lyon Mackenzie 1874–1950 Canadian statesman; prime minister (1921–26; 1926–30; 1935–48)

King

8 of 8

biographical name (8)

William Rufus de Vane 1786–1853 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1853)