preside

verb

pre·​side pri-ˈzīd How to pronounce preside (audio)
presided; presiding

intransitive verb

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
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.
The presiding judge in the case is James Boasberg, who is now in Trump’s crosshairs over the judge’s recent ruling on a separate case related to deportations. Ashley Oliver, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025 Bates, the presiding judge, will soon issue a ruling on whether DOGE should be temporarily blocked from reviewing federal agencies while the case plays out. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 28 Feb. 2025 McCullum presided gloriously over the win column during the Bazball induction in Test match cricket, but his cool-hand Luke approach isn’t the best code to crack the ODI game. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025 Sun Yung Lazare, the presiding judge in the case, told the court that the trial's concern was whether the hunters had illegally killed the bear. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preside

Word History

Etymology

Latin praesidēre to guard, preside over, from prae- + sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preside was in 1608

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preside. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

preside

verb
pre·​side pri-ˈzīd How to pronounce preside (audio)
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 How to pronounce preside (audio)
presided; presiding
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
: to occupy the place of authority : direct or regulate proceedings as chief officer

More from Merriam-Webster on preside

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