preside
Americanverb (used without object)
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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:
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
On Sunday, Leo will preside over Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square before delivering a typically political blessing which is especially anticipated this year.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
There are reports that the Assembly of Experts could chose a council of leaders rather than one person to preside in this perilous time.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2026
Marvin Bell, junior class president, will preside over the scandals as master of ceremonies.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
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
Jerry Brown appointed Draper to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where he now presides over high-value business disputes and complex civil matters.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
While Trump originally said External link the event would be held in the Oval Office, it is now taking place in the White House press briefing room, where press secretary Karoline Leavitt typically presides.
From Barron's ● Apr. 6, 2026
Hijri also presides over a coalition established last month that brings together the leading Iranian Kurdish groups.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
It presides over so many vital activities that even the slightest damage to it is fraught with serious consequences.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Judge Brian Cogan, who presided over El Chapo’s trial, responded to the first five letters received by the court with a May 4 order denying their requests.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
As chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987-2006, a post described as the second most important after the presidency, he presided over the longest sustained period of US economic growth in a generation.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
In 2004, four-way talks were held on a plan to reunify Cyprus, presided over by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, but failed to produce an agreement.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
In just over 13 months as the CEO of Fiserv, Mike Lyons presided over a 71% stock drop.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
Toby presided again as the high priest, and his ceremony was almost exactly the same as the day before.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
A Senedd spokesperson said no breach had been committed by the MS, although the BBC was told the presiding officer's comments could be construed as a final warning to all members.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is presiding over a trial that combines more than 2,000 cases focused on the harms of social media use by minors.
From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026
Nathan Hochman asked the judge presiding over the case to halt the historic payout, while the county’s legal team fought to keep the deal on track.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
Citing ongoing litigation, presiding leadership at the SYC declined to comment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
That day Obsle’s party, the Open Trade faction, took over the presiding offices of the Thirty-Three.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
