musical chairs

noun

plural in form but singular in construction

: a game in which players march to music around a row of chairs numbering one less than the players and scramble for seats when the music stops

also : a situation or series of events suggesting the game of musical chairs (as in rapid change or confusing activity)

Examples of musical chairs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2008, Luis Valbuena, acquired from Seattle in a three-team trade, was the primary starter as Cabrera was switched to short, replacing Jhonny Peralta, who went to third in an infield rendition of musical chairs. —Chuck Murr, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

The bottom line: More musical chairs will be ahead, as could-be candidates shift their plans based on who's in — or out — of the race. —Torey Van Oot, Axios, 14 Feb. 2025

If nothing else, the Wildcats have proven to be adaptable in Pope’s first season, between the backcourt musical chairs and Andrew Carr’s lingering stiffness from his own back injury. —Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025

The start of the 2004 Litchfield boys and girls track and field season is a little like a game of musical chairs. —Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for musical chairs

• concessionaires
• affaires
• affairs
• armchairs
• bulgars
• compares
• crosshairs
• declares
• despairs
• downstairs
• forbears
• forebears