chair
Americannoun
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chairs
plural
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a seat, especially for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back and often having rests for the arms.
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something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair.
The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.
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a seat of office or authority.
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a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.
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the person occupying a seat of office, especially the chairperson of a meeting.
The speaker addressed the chair.
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(in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk.
first clarinet chair.
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Informal. the chair, electric chair.
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(in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.
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a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.
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British Railroads. a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.
verb (used with object)
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chairs,
present (3rd person singular)
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chaired,
past participle, past
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chairing
present participle
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to place or seat in a chair.
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to install in office.
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to preside over; act as chairperson of.
to chair a committee.
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British. to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.
verb (used without object)
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chairs,
present (3rd person singular)
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chaired,
past participle, past
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chairing
present participle
idioms
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take the chair,
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to begin or open a meeting.
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to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.
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-
get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.
noun
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a seat with a back on which one person sits, typically having four legs and often having arms
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an official position of authority
a chair on the board of directors
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the person chairing a debate or meeting
the speaker addressed the chair
-
a professorship
the chair of German
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railways an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position
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short for sedan chair
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chairing a debate or meeting
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to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc
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an informal name for electric chair
verb
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to preside over (a meeting)
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to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement
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to provide with a chair of office
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to install in a chair
Gender
Is it chair, chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson? See chairperson.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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chairsimple
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chairssimple
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have chairedperfect
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has chairedperfect
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am chairingprogressive
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are chairingprogressive
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is chairingprogressive
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have been chairingperfect progressive
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has been chairingperfect progressive
Past
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chairedsimple
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had chairedperfect
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was chairingprogressive
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were chairingprogressive
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had been chairingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of chair
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra; see cathedra
Explanation
A chair is a seat with four legs and a back to lean against. When you invite a large group for dinner, you have to make sure you find chairs for all of your guests. As opposed to a bench, couch, or sofa, a chair usually seats one single person. You might have wooden kitchen chairs and a comfortable, upholstered chair with arms for watching TV. Another kind of chair is the leader of an organization or group, and it's also a verb meaning to lead such a group: "I've been asked to chair the monthly meetings of the stamp collectors' club." The Old French root is chaiere, "seat or throne."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
She has served as budget chair since 2023.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
“It’s a really legitimate concern that, if I leave, what are the odds that there is still a chair for me when I return?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Shana M. Broussard, the commissioner and acting chair of the Federal Election Commission, explains in Slate just how much money is being let into America’s federal elections.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
“With our ceremony, we kept it very short and sweet. We did our vows privately, but for the family section, we had a chair to honor both of them with just flowers,” Woods said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
Little Britches pushed back her bonnet, and bounced in teacher’s chair.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
It’s all very exciting and just a tad chaotic — kind of like a game of musical chairs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
Those results aren’t surprising to Lena Gonzalez, a Long Beach-area state senator who chairs California’s Latino Legislative Caucus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Michael Clarke, who chairs Run, said individuals from "all walks of life" had helped the birds to thrive.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
For example, instead of a living room, they fashioned a swanky cocktail lounge complete with a custom bar, a Yamaha piano, and retro swivel chairs.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
Blankets are spread out between the screen and the chairs.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Lon Johnson grew up Downriver and chaired the Michigan Democratic Party until 2015.
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026
Colm Kelleher, the former Morgan Stanley president who has chaired UBS’s board since 2022, is increasingly in favor of exploring a deal, some of the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Haass chaired all-party talks in Northern Ireland in 2013 aimed at resolving contentious issues, including parades.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
He chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term, where he largely took a pro-business stance but brought enforcement cases against the nascent crypto industry.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
The General Advisory Committee, still chaired by Oppenheimer, was also leaning toward a second lab.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Fox’s own Washington bureau chief, Bryan Boughton, who happened to be chairing the pool this week, sent the note announcing the shutdown.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
"Through the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that she is chairing, this government will deliver the reforms needed to ensure the very highest standards of safety and care for every mother and baby."
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Besides chairing the Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, Allen also is running in November’s election to be the state’s next insurance commissioner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
As host, Macron was officially chairing the summit but Trump left no doubt over who he believed was in charge.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
In the days leading up to the charrette, Durham’s two white newspapers also featured several in-depth stories about the event, many of them focusing on the odd couple chairing it.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
