Word
preside
Phoneticspre·side, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹiˈzaɪd/
UK/pɹɪsˈaɪd/
Definitions
01to lead a meeting or trial
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
v. to be the person in charge of a formal meeting, a court, or a committee.
v. to act as the chairperson, president, or judge in a formal gathering or legal proceeding.
“The judge will preside over the trial starting next Monday morning.”
“The Chief Justice was appointed to preside over the high-profile tribunal, ensuring that all procedural rules were strictly followed throughout the testimony.”
02to exercise authority
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to have a position of power or control over a situation or period of time.
v. to exercise authority, control, or dominance over a specific situation, organization, or era.
“The CEO presided over a period of great success for the company.”
“The prime minister presided over a decade of unprecedented economic growth, though critics argue the social costs were significant.”
03to perform at an instrument
C2 · Proficiency Music Formal · Technical
v. to be the main person playing a large instrument, like an organ, at an event.
v. to act as a featured solo performer, particularly at a keyboard instrument such as a pipe organ during a ceremony.
“A famous musician will preside at the organ for the wedding ceremony.”
“The cathedral organist was invited to preside at the console for the inaugural recital of the newly restored instrument.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “preside” in context.
Verb
01. preside over a period
“The CEO presided over a period of unprecedented economic growth for the company.”
verb + prep + noun
02. preside over the court
“Judge Miller was appointed to preside over the court during the high-profile trial.”
verb + prep + noun
03. preside over the meeting
“The committee chair will preside over the meeting to ensure all agenda items are addressed.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
04. dignifiedly preside over the event
“The elder statesman presided dignifiedly over the event, commanding respect from all attendees.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
05. impartially preside over the proceedings
“It is essential that the moderator impartially presides over the proceedings to maintain fairness.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
06. jointly preside over the ceremony
“The two religious leaders will jointly preside over the ceremony to honor both traditions.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Usage
The verb is intransitive and almost always takes the preposition 'over'.
Pitfall
He presided the meeting
He presided over the meeting
Preside is intransitive and requires the preposition 'over' before the object.
Real-World Examples
“The pre-trial process has been going on for so long that it has now been presided over by five different military judges.” “She comes back to life three nights in a row, and he’s got to preside over the last rites.” Etymology
From Old French presider, from Latin praesidēre (“preside”), from pre- (“before”) + sedere (“to sit”). Displaced Old English foresittan, which might have been a calque of the Latin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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