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
-
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
-
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:
“From sunup, to sundown, these children, whether they’re in a high chair or old enough to sit at a desk, sat in what can only be described as makeshift classrooms,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
In her fourth report, the chair of the Covid Inquiry, Baroness Hallett, called for better support for those affected.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
But this year's El Nino layers "a terrifying level of additional risk", said Obura, a Kenyan reef expert and chair of IPBES, the UN's expert scientific panel on biodiversity.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
The new task force chair is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
They looked back and noticed her for the first time, small in the big chair.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
"There used to be tables and chairs with people eating food and drinking by the river," said Mark Newlands, who lives a few doors down.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Passengers float around in automated chairs, surrounded by screens, food and entertainment.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
“We had a table and chairs that would seat 12 people and came from Peter’s grandparents. The table was marred on top and the consignment people wouldn’t take it,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
At the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which was also devastated by the attack, mourners sat in silence in assembled chairs as they watched the raising of an Israeli flag.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
There are five or six old people sitting in the chairs.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Mediawan has already established a foothold in Hollywood by acquiring companies such as Plan B, chaired by Brad Pitt, at the end of 2022, and The North Road Company in early 2026.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Also on Monday afternoon, the prime minister chaired a Cobra meeting and urged people "not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts".
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
It points to an "emergency Cobra meeting" chaired by Burnham on Monday afternoon, and adds Donald Trump has said he is "surprised" by the release.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
She chaired the Congressional Black Caucus and helped secure Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Odium chaired the board of the Lovelace Foundation.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
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
Meanwhile, Labour councillor Linda Tift, who was temporarily chairing the meeting, is heard saying "Simon, what are you doing? Oh my God" before calling an adjournment "while we calm things down".
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 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
Josh Newman, 61, has been a state senator, including chairing the education committee, and a technology company executive.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
“Sorry, Flora. You know I’m chairing the principals’ conference this year, and it’s just details, details, details.”
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
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