plural chairs
1
a
: a seat typically having four legs and a back for one person
b
: electric chair
—used with the
2
a
: an official seat or a seat of authority, state, or dignity
b
: an office or position of authority or dignity
c
: professorship
holds a university chair
d
: chairperson sense 1
was appointed chair of the committee
3
: a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk
specifically
: the position of a player in an orchestra or band
4
: any of various devices that hold up or support
5
: a sedan chair
chaired; chairing; chairs
1
: to preside as chairperson of
chaired a commission
2
: to install in office
3
chiefly British
: to carry on the shoulders in acclaim
we chaired you through the market place—
A. E. Housman
A. E. HousmanSynonyms
Examples of chair in a Sentence
Noun
a chair by the window
We'll need a table and four chairs for the dining room.
He is now chair of the English department.
She's chair of the school board this year.
Address any questions to the committee chair.
a murderer who was sentenced to the chair
Verb
He's been chosen to chair the task force on school violence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
Schmuhl was elected to his four-year term as chair in 2021.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Senator Abraham, who chaired the Senate immigration subcommittee, lost his race for reelection in November 2000, so discussions began with Rep. Lamar Smith, chair of the House immigration subcommittee, and his staff about increasing the H-1B cap.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chair 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Jessica Rosenworcel, the first woman to serve as permanent FCC chair, will depart the agency on January 20, the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
Schmuhl was elected to his four-year term as chair in 2021.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
Peters blasted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray for failing to show up for an annual hearing held by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Peters chairs to examine threats to the U.S.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Senator Abraham, who chaired the Senate immigration subcommittee, lost his race for reelection in November 2000, so discussions began with Rep. Lamar Smith, chair of the House immigration subcommittee, and his staff about increasing the H-1B cap.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chair
Dictionary Entries Near chair
Cite this Entry
“Chair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chair. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share