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dais

American  
[dey-is, dahy-, deys] / ˈdeɪ ɪs, ˈdaɪ-, deɪs /

noun

  1. a raised platform, as at the front of a room, for a lectern, throne, seats of honor, etc.

dais British  
/ ˈdeɪɪs, deɪs /

noun

  1. a raised platform, usually at one end of a hall, used by speakers, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dais

1225–75; Middle English deis < Anglo-French ( Old French dois ) < Latin discus quoit; discus

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.

When Mullin walked to the dais, he shook only one hand: O'Brien's.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Trump addressed the executives from a lectern on a makeshift dais a few feet away from them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

The CFTC’s Acting Chair Caroline Pham followed Atkins to the dais, and proudly reeled off her successes at streamlining and updating her agency.

From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025

He wanted Kershaw’s wife, Ellen, and their four kids in front of the pitcher right when he sat down at the dais at Dodger Stadium.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 23, 2025

She put one foot on the first step at the bottom of the dais but hesitated to go farther.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.