# throne

/ˈθɹoʊn/ (US) · /θɹˈəʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/throne
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. royal seat

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The king sat on his golden throne to address the visiting leaders.
- The ornate throne was carved from solid oak and positioned centrally within the hall to emphasise the monarch's absolute authority.

### 2. monarchy or power

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the position or power of being a king or queen.

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

- The young prince was next in line for the throne.
- The revolution sought to topple the throne and replace the centuries-old monarchy with a representative assembly.

### 3. a toilet

noun · CEFR B2 · Humorous · Informal

a funny or polite way to talk about a toilet.

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

- He spent so much time on the throne that we thought he had fallen asleep.
- The plumber joked that he had spent his entire career fixing people's broken thrones.

### 4. drummer's stool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the padded stool that a drummer sits on while playing.

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

- The drummer adjusted his throne before the concert started.
- A high-quality drum throne is essential for maintaining proper posture during long recording sessions and high-intensity performances.

### 5. to place on a throne

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

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

For teachers: to invest with regal power or to seat someone ceremonially as a monarch.

- The people throned their new leader with great celebration.
- In the ancient epic, the gods throned the hero among the stars as a reward for his bravery.

## Examples

- The king sat on his golden throne during the ceremony.
- After the long flight, he spent quite a bit of time on his porcelain throne.
- The museum displayed a replica of the medieval throne, carved from solid oak and decorated with intricate gold leaf to symbolise the absolute power of the ruling dynasty.

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