preside
Americanverb (used without object)
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presides,
present (3rd person singular)
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presided,
past participle, past
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presiding
present participle
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to occupy the place of authority or control, as in an assembly or meeting; act as president or chairperson.
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to exercise management or control (usually followed byover ).
The lawyer presided over the estate.
verb
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to sit in or hold a position of authority, as over a meeting
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to exercise authority; control
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to occupy a position as an instrumentalist
he presided at the organ
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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presidesimple
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presidessimple
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have presidedperfect
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has presidedperfect
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am presidingprogressive
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are presidingprogressive
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is presidingprogressive
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have been presidingperfect progressive
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has been presidingperfect progressive
Past
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presidedsimple
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had presidedperfect
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was presidingprogressive
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were presidingprogressive
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had been presidingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of preside
1605–15; < Latin praesidēre to preside over, literally, sit in front of, equivalent to prae- pre- + -sidēre, combining form of sedēre to sit 1
Explanation
When you preside over something, you're acting as the leader or president. The captain of a club presides over the meetings. Whether your title is President or not, when you preside, you're acting as a president or another kind of leader. A judge presides over a courtroom. The owner of a business presides over staff meetings. If you work in an office, your boss presides over the office. Presiding can mean ruling or just supervising something. If you preside over something, you're in charge of it.
Vocabulary lists containing preside
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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Just Mercy
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This Week In Words: Current Events Vocab for January 23–29, 2021
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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:
Last year, Australia bowed out of a contest with Turkey to host the COP31 summit in a deal that let it preside over negotiations and bring the preparatory talks to the Pacific.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Although it was clear that America was under attack, the chief justice went to preside over the Judicial Conference.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
That’s when Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee, is expected to preside over his first meeting as the new chairman.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026
It’s a two-year term to preside over Southern Section Council meetings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
Marvin Bell, junior class president, will preside over the scandals as master of ceremonies.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
King Mohammed VI, the 63-year-old monarch, appoints the prime minister from the political party that comes first in the election, but also presides over the Council of Ministers - the country's most important policy-making body.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Now he’s married with seven kids and presides over something of an online personal-finance empire that includes an app, books, workshops and social-media communities.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Consider the decision from the 6th Circuit, which incorporated Consumers’ Research into its reasoning, and which presides over Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby.
From Slate ● Jun. 12, 2026
André De Shields, Tony-winning royalty, presides over this Jellicle Ball in the role of Old Deuteronomy.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
“Yes, it’s a disgrace,” agrees the caustic, somewhat original, and entirely imposing lady who presides over this litter.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
In 1967, Pillay became the first woman to start a law practice in Natal Province, South Africa, beginning a decadeslong career in which she has presided over both criminal and civil cases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
He’s presided over declines in homicides and violent crime and established a period of relative calm after the stormy Villanueva years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
When any side embarks on the sort of root and branch revolution the Italian presided over this summer, it is inevitable there will be teething problems and time required for understandings and relationships to form.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
This follows eight years when the central bank was led by Jerome Powell, who presided over the Fed’s pandemic response.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
There Robb found a hive of anti-Oppenheimer sentiment, presided over by Ernest Lawrence.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
The judge presiding over the case ordered a hearing on Wednesday, where both sides will argue why the charges should stand or be dismissed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Little wonder, after leading United back to the Champions League so unexpectedly last season, Carrick is presiding over a club whose supporters feel deflated, even if he does not recognise that.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Judge Julie Mata, who was presiding over the paternity case, wasn’t as amused.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Held in a stifling courtroom during the peak of summer, the proceedings involved day after day of contentious confrontation as the couple sought to exasperate Li Mien, the presiding judge, at every opportunity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
She had her first taste of presiding over it the day it was complete and finished.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
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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.
