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. HousmanExamples 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
Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2025
Rollins emerged victorious in the main event after Paul Heyman shockingly sided with him over Reigns and Punk, handing him a steel chair that Rollins used to secure the win.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2025
The same went for Darrel Madison, who now chairs the advisory committee.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chair
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Wheeler is up against Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman and a key figure in establishing NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium, executive vice chair Lesa France Kennedy, Pocono Raceway founder Dr. Joseph Mattioli and former West Coast executive Les Richter for the Landmark Award.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2025
Rollins emerged victorious in the main event after Paul Heyman shockingly sided with him over Reigns and Punk, handing him a steel chair that Rollins used to secure the win.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
Kratz previously chaired the health care practice and served on the firm’s board of directors, and most recently served as Academic Health Center Counsel for the University of Minnesota.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 20 Apr. 2025
The same went for Darrel Madison, who now chairs the advisory committee.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chair
Cite this Entry
“Chair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chair. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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