English Reference
noun · verb

throne

n. · v.
US /ˈθɹoʊn/ UK /θɹˈəʊn/ throne UK spelling throne's, throne's, throned, throning

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the special, decorated chair that a king, queen, or religious leader sits on during ceremonies.

    n.the ceremonial chair of a monarch, bishop, or other high-ranking dignitary, typically situated on a dais.

    Simple

    The king sat on his golden throne to address the visiting leaders.

    In context

    The ornate throne was carved from solid oak and positioned centrally within the hall to emphasise the monarch's absolute authority.

    seatchair of state
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    n.the position or power of being a king or queen.

    n.the office or dignity of a monarch; used metonymically to represent sovereign power or the institution of the monarchy.

    Simple

    The young prince was next in line for the throne.

    In context

    The revolution sought to topple the throne and replace the centuries-old monarchy with a representative assembly.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate HumorousInformal

    n.a funny or polite way to talk about a toilet.

    n.a humorous euphemism for a toilet, playing on the idea of sitting in a position of importance.

    Simple

    He spent so much time on the throne that we thought he had fallen asleep.

    In context

    The plumber joked that he had spent his entire career fixing people's broken thrones.

    toiletloolatrine
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Music

    n.the padded stool that a drummer sits on while playing.

    n.a backless, often tripod-based stool designed for a drummer to provide stability and range of motion.

    Simple

    The drummer adjusted his throne before the concert started.

    In context

    A high-quality drum throne is essential for maintaining proper posture during long recording sessions and high-intensity performances.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency ArchaicLiterary

    v.to put someone on a throne or in a high position of power.

    v.to invest with regal power or to seat someone ceremonially as a monarch.

    Simple

    The people throned their new leader with great celebration.

    In context

    In the ancient epic, the gods throned the hero among the stars as a reward for his bravery.

    enthroneexalt
    dethrone

Harald - who was on the throne for 35 years - died in hospital at 06:35 local time (04:35 GMT) aged 89, after being treated there for a rare blood condition.

BBC News· 28 Aug 2026

King Harald of Norway has died aged 89, after more than three decades on the throne.

Sky News· 28 Aug 2026

From Middle English trone, from Old French trone, from Latin thronus, from Ancient Greek θρόνος (thrónos, “chair, throne”). Superseded earlier seld (“seat, throne”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek θρόνος
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated