presided; presiding
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
a
: to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator
b
: to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman
3
: to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer
—usually used with at
presided at the organ
presider
noun
Examples of preside in a Sentence
Court is now in session, Justice Raul Fernandez presiding.
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles County Superior Court’s presiding judge issued a critical statement in response to questions about Wednesday’s incident, saying such operations will have a negative effect on the judicial system.
—
Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The next important date is September 9, when the presiding judge will hear the MW’s motion to dismiss the poaching penalty lawsuit filed by the Pac-12.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Absent a handful of states that have passed disclosure laws affecting their own state court systems, the vast majority of state and federal courts do not require parties to disclose who's paying their legal costs—not to other parties and not even to the presiding judge.
—Michael Patrick Flanagan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
In a pair of related murder cases in 2022, Hippler presided as a father and stepmother separately reached deals with prosecutors to plead guilty to the death of the man’s 9-year-old son.
—Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preside
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Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The next important date is September 9, when the presiding judge will hear the MW’s motion to dismiss the poaching penalty lawsuit filed by the Pac-12.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Absent a handful of states that have passed disclosure laws affecting their own state court systems, the vast majority of state and federal courts do not require parties to disclose who's paying their legal costs—not to other parties and not even to the presiding judge.
—Michael Patrick Flanagan, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
In a pair of related murder cases in 2022, Hippler presided as a father and stepmother separately reached deals with prosecutors to plead guilty to the death of the man’s 9-year-old son.
—Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preside
Cite this Entry
“Preside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preside. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preside
verb
pre·side
pri-ˈzīd 
presided; presiding
1
: to be in the place of authority : act as president, chairperson, or moderator
preside over a meeting
2
: to be in charge
Legal Definition
preside
intransitive verb
pre·side
pri-ˈzīd
presided; presiding
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
: to occupy the place of authority : direct or regulate proceedings as chief officer
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