king

noun

ˈkiŋ 

1

a

: a male monarch of a major territorial unit

especially : one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life

b

: a paramount chief

2

capitalized : god, christ

… to worship the King, the Lord of hosts …

—Zechariah 14:16 (Revised Standard Version)

3

: one that holds a preeminent position

especially : a chief among competitors

the cattle kings rode up from the south

—Alan Moorehead

even if no longer king, cotton remains the chief cash crop

—Howell Walker

4

: the principal piece of each color in chess having the power to move ordinarily one square in any direction and to capture opposing pieces but being obliged never to enter or remain in check

5

: a playing card marked with a stylized figure of a king

6

: a checker that has been crowned

7

: chinook salmon

Synonyms

• baron
• captain
• czar
• tsar
• tzar
• lion
• lord
• magnate
• mogul
• monarch
• Napoleon
• prince
• tycoon

Examples of king in a Sentence

He pledged his loyalty to the king and queen.

the reign of King James

He became king at a young age.

He's widely regarded as the king of soul music.

He was voted king of the prom.

The lion is known as the king of the jungle.

She won the game by checkmating his king.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the place where presidents, kings, queens, and heads of state have stayed. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024

Horror movie master John Carpenter by CBS Sunday Morning on YouTube FROM THE ARCHIVES: Horror movie master John Carpenter (YouTube Video) From 2017: The filmmaker who is king of things that go bump in the night is a musical master of horror as well. —David Morgan, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2024

Each 400-square-foot studio accommodates two guests with either a king or queen bed, a luxurious soaking tub, a modern gas fireplace and organic amenities by Sangre de Fruta. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Take your pick from sizes twin through California king, and three thicknesses: 2, 3, and 4 inches. —Isabel Garcia, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English cyning; akin to Old High German kuning king, Old English cynn kin

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing king

• Alaskan king crab
• drag king
• fit for a king
• king cake
• king cobra
• king crab
• king mackerel
• king of arms
• king penguin
• king post
• king salmon
• king's evil
• king-size
• king-sized
• king snake
• king's ransom
• à la king
• scarlet king snake
• sea king
• turn king's evidence

Kids Definition

king

noun

ˈkiŋ 

1

: a male ruler of a country who usually inherits his position and rules for life

2

: a chief among competitors

an oil king

3

: the chief piece in the game of chess

4

: a playing card bearing the figure of a king

5

: a piece in the game of checkers that has reached the opponent's back row and has been crowned

Biographical Definition

King 1 of 8

biographical name (1)

ˈkiŋ 

B. B. 1925–2015 originally Riley B. King American blues musician

King

2 of 8

biographical name (2)

Billie Jean 1943–     née Moffitt American tennis player

King

3 of 8

biographical name (3)

Ernest Joseph 1878–1956 American admiral

King

4 of 8

biographical name (4)

Martin Luther, Jr. 1929–1968 American clergyman and civil rights leader

King

5 of 8

biographical name (5)

Rufus 1755–1827 American politician and diplomat

King

6 of 8

biographical name (6)

Stephen (Edwin) 1947–     American writer

King

7 of 8

biographical name (7)

William Lyon Mackenzie 1874–1950 Canadian statesman; prime minister (1921–26; 1926–30; 1935–48)

King

8 of 8

biographical name (8)

William Rufus de Vane 1786–1853 American politician; vice president of the U.S. (1853)