# Kings

/ˈkɪŋz/ (US) · /kˈɪŋz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kings
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. multiple male rulers

noun · CEFR A2

more than one king; male rulers of a country.

For teachers: the plural form of king, denoting multiple male monarchs or supreme rulers of a nation.

- The history book describes how the two kings met to sign a peace treaty.
- Throughout the medieval period, various kings competed for control over the fertile lands situated between the two mountain ranges.

### 2. biblical books

noun · CEFR B2

two books in the Old Testament of the Bible that tell the history of ancient Israel.

For teachers: two books of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament that chronicle the history of the kings of ancient Israel and Judah.

- We studied the story of Solomon in the book of Kings during our history class.
- The narrative in First Kings provides a detailed account of the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

### 3. a drinking game

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a popular social game played with a deck of cards, usually involving drinking.

For teachers: a social drinking game, also known as King's Cup, where players perform actions based on the cards they draw.

- The students decided to play kings at the party on Friday night.
- While the rules for kings vary by region, the central mechanic involves placing a large cup in the middle of the table.

## Examples

- He is the king of basketball in this city.
- The fans cheered for the returning champions, calling them the kings of the league after their third straight victory.
- In the competitive world of high-frequency trading, those who master the algorithms are often regarded as the kings of the industry, commanding both immense salaries and professional awe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.