throne

American  

[throhn] / θroʊn /

noun

• thrones
  plural

1. the chair or seat occupied by a sovereign, bishop, or other exalted personage on ceremonial occasions, usually raised on a dais and covered with a canopy.

2. the office or dignity of a sovereign.

   He came to the throne by succession.

3. the occupant of a throne; sovereign.

4. sovereign power or authority.

   to address one's pleas to the throne.

5. an episcopal office or authority.

   the diocesan throne.

6. mourners' bench.

7. thrones, an order of angels.

8. Facetious. a toilet.

---

verb (used with or without object)

throned, throning

1. to sit on or as on a throne.

throne British  

/ θrəʊn /

noun

1. the ceremonial seat occupied by a monarch, bishop, etc on occasions of state

2. the power, duties, or rank ascribed to a royal person

3. a person holding royal rank

4. (plural; often capital) the third of the nine orders into which the angels are traditionally divided in medieval angelology

---

verb

1. to place or be placed on a throne

throne Idioms  

1. see power behind the throne.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• throneless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• thrones
  plural

Etymology

Origin of throne

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin thronus < Greek thrónos high seat; replacing Middle English trone < Old French < Latin, as above

Explanation

The oversized, bejeweled chair on which a king or queen sits is called a throne. Monarchs — kings and queens — sit on thrones on special ceremonial occasions, and so do religious figures such as bishops and popes. You can also describe the act of naming a new monarch this way: "Queen Elizabeth II of England was throned in 1952." The word throne has its root in the Greek thronos, "chair or elevated seat." In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus was said to sit on a special heavenly seat, the Dios thronous.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

throne thrones throned throning

“Walls will begin to whisper throughout. You get to take Paul’s throne and see the desert come alive around you. Guests may even find out if they have what it takes to ride a sandworm.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

Some will feature hidden messages within ancient carvings, while others will emphasize photo opportunities with Paul Atreides’ throne, allowing guests to attempt their best Timothée Chalamet impression.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026

But Kijanangoma, 56, has now become the subject of media attention himself - his rise to the Tooro throne sparking controversy and widespread reactions beyond the country.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The Orange Order is an pro-British organisation that takes its name from William of Orange, the Protestant Dutchman who seized the English, Scottish and Ireland throne from Catholic King James II in 1689.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

As long as Frederick remained on the throne, Tycho was able to enjoy an unprecedented amount of freedom to run his observatory just as he liked.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Across 58 scenes the British Museum counts 737 animals, 627 figures, 416 plants, 115 swords, 37 ships, 33 buildings, 23 trees, 11 thrones, four sea crossings, two feasts, and the first depiction of Halley’s Comet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

It depicts a medieval game of thrones as William the Conqueror fought King Harold to rule England.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

The ceremony then culminated with Mullally being seated in two different thrones.

From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026

Warner Bros.’ sale has become the industry’s game of thrones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

Hizdahr’s grotesque dragon thrones had been removed at Ser Barristan’s command, but he had not brought back the simple pillowed bench the queen had favored.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

A hoarder of women, art, antiquities — and most of all, money — Getty also might have taken issue with Portia’s claim that mercy “becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.”

From New York Times ● Dec. 24, 2017

So Blatter is seeking to be throned for another four years as Fifa big cheese at the elections to be held in June.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 22, 2011

They have commanded knights and serfs, taken walled towns and sat throned among their armies.

From Time Magazine Archive

The spectacle of John L. Lewis on Organized Labor's pinnacle, throned on Coal and crowned with Steel, is not fantastic.

From Time Magazine Archive

A kingdom where kings are throned and dethroned daily.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

The king and queen, my lady dear, Touching the throning, for my sake Some salutary counsel take.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin) Griffith

On every side, where'er he came, He heard glad words, their theme the same, As in their joy the gathered folk Of Ráma and the throning spoke.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin) Griffith

These kings sought to crown that semi-barbarous occupation of North Italy during two centuries by throning themselves in Rome, and making the Pope their vassal.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Thomas W. Allies

Frederic, though great in royal throning, Well may amaze the earth, and heaven, When clothed by thunder and the levin Swerves he before the hero's fanfare.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 4 by Hamilton Wright Mabie

How heartily she rained them on the Tuileries and the majesty of the imperial court, throning on high above an abject and trembling people.

From Four Short Stories By Emile Zola by Émile Zola