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.
President Trump had a victory in his ongoing legal battle against the Pulitzer Prize Board on Monday when presiding Judge Robert L. Pegg rejected a Protective Order Governing Discovery motion that would have guarded the board's internal communications. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 Murphy enjoyed a long prestigious career as a Cook County public defender, a private criminal defense attorney, Cook County’s first female presiding judge and champion for restorative justice. Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025 That tenure includes as stint as presiding judge of the county’s juvenile court system. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025 Garvey and his shipping company were now being investigated by the FBI under the presiding eye of J. Edgar Hoover, which would lead to his conviction of mail fraud and a sentence of five years in prison. Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near preside

Cite this Entry

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