lord
1 of 2noun
ˈlȯrd 
1
: one having power and authority over others:
a
: a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due
b
: one of whom a fee or estate is held in feudal tenure
c
: an owner of land or other real (see real entry 1 sense 2) property
d
obsolete : the male head of a household
e
: husband
f
: one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area
a drug lord
2
capitalized
a
: god sense 1
b
: jesus
3
: a man of rank or high position: such as
a
: a feudal tenant whose right or title comes directly from the king
b
: a British nobleman: such as
(1)
: baron sense 2a
(2)
: a hereditary peer of the rank of marquess, earl, or viscount
(3)
: the son of a duke or a marquess or the eldest son of an earl
(4)
: a bishop of the Church of England
c
Lords plural : house of lords
4
—used as a British title: such as
a
—used as part of an official title
Lord AdvocateLord Mayor
b
—used informally in place of the full title for a marquess, earl, or viscount
c
—used for a baron
d
—used by courtesy before the name and surname of a younger son of a duke or a marquess
5
: a person chosen to preside over a festival
lord
2 of 2verb
lorded; lording; lords
intransitive verb
: to act like a lord
especially : to put on airs —usually used with it
lords it over his friends
Synonyms
Noun
- baron
- captain
- czar
- tsar
- tzar
- king
- lion
- magnate
- mogul
- monarch
- Napoleon
- prince
- tycoon
Verb
- condescend
- patronize
- talk down (to)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He became a lord upon the death of his father. as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property
Recent Examples on the Web
Emy Lacroix, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023 With a battle shield strapped to her arm, this queen stands majestically on the back of an enemy captive, a lord of Calakmul. —Shannon Palus, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2014 The standout here is Aquaman, portrayed as a prideful lord of Atlantis that just wants to be liked. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 29 July 2022 Last week, our dark lord and Bravo mascot-in-chief Andy Cohen was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and on his son’s third birthday, of all days. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2022 Additionally, Maya gods often took the form of jaguars, such as the fearsome lord of the night sun, a god of the underworld. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 29 Dec. 2020 As lord of Monday nights at NPR-affiliate station KCRW-FM, DJ Galván has revitalized the city’s airwaves with his positively zany playlists, effortlessly weaving in the sounds of Björk with up-and-coming L.A. bands like the Red Pears. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2022 Ishida Castle, the family seat of the former (and final) daimyo lord of Fukue, now functions as the local high school, as well as the city’s public library. —Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2022 Rhames’ lord of the underworld took a cue from Barry White), as well as a nod to Nightmare‘s Jack Skellington. —Carolina Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2022 Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2023 At least the American bank robbery can lord it over the average commercial raid (which nets an average of $1,589) and convenience store bust (only $769 on average). —Sophie Bushwick, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2012 Gapjil, a Korean word for those in power who lord over their subordinates, has long been a prevalent problem in the country – especially within elite families who dominate South Korea’s business and politics. —Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2022 Nearly a decade ago, Zuckerberg recognized that Apple and Google could lord over his company via their respective mobile operating systems and app stores. —Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 3 Feb. 2022 The cancelation of the game meant an entire year without someone being able to lord it over their best friends. —Nathan Baird, cleveland, 24 Nov. 2021 Neither the townsfolk nor the tourists lord it over the others or pity each other. —Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 17 Nov. 2021 Do not lord over them — with direct orders or by implication. —Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Oct. 2021 That said, Kalmar doesn’t plan to lord his experience over his future students, which will include instrumentalists as well as aspiring conductors. —Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 10 May 2021 See More
Noun
Enola heads to London in search of her missing mother but winds up helping a runaway lord and outsmarting her older brother. —Emy Lacroix, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023 With a battle shield strapped to her arm, this queen stands majestically on the back of an enemy captive, a lord of Calakmul. —Shannon Palus, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2014 The standout here is Aquaman, portrayed as a prideful lord of Atlantis that just wants to be liked. —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 29 July 2022 Last week, our dark lord and Bravo mascot-in-chief Andy Cohen was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and on his son’s third birthday, of all days. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2022 Additionally, Maya gods often took the form of jaguars, such as the fearsome lord of the night sun, a god of the underworld. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 29 Dec. 2020 As lord of Monday nights at NPR-affiliate station KCRW-FM, DJ Galván has revitalized the city’s airwaves with his positively zany playlists, effortlessly weaving in the sounds of Björk with up-and-coming L.A. bands like the Red Pears. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2022 Ishida Castle, the family seat of the former (and final) daimyo lord of Fukue, now functions as the local high school, as well as the city’s public library. —Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2022 Rhames’ lord of the underworld took a cue from Barry White), as well as a nod to Nightmare‘s Jack Skellington. —Carolina Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2022 Verb
But everyone who snagged All Quiet in the Vulture Movie Fantasy League for a smooth $3 can lord it above those who shilled out for those other movies. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2023 At least the American bank robbery can lord it over the average commercial raid (which nets an average of $1,589) and convenience store bust (only $769 on average). —Sophie Bushwick, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2012 Gapjil, a Korean word for those in power who lord over their subordinates, has long been a prevalent problem in the country – especially within elite families who dominate South Korea’s business and politics. —Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2022 Nearly a decade ago, Zuckerberg recognized that Apple and Google could lord over his company via their respective mobile operating systems and app stores. —Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 3 Feb. 2022 The cancelation of the game meant an entire year without someone being able to lord it over their best friends. —Nathan Baird, cleveland, 24 Nov. 2021 Neither the townsfolk nor the tourists lord it over the others or pity each other. —Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 17 Nov. 2021 Do not lord over them — with direct orders or by implication. —Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Oct. 2021 That said, Kalmar doesn’t plan to lord his experience over his future students, which will include instrumentalists as well as aspiring conductors. —Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 10 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English loverd, lord, from Old English hlāford, from hlāf loaf + weard keeper — more at loaf, ward
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing lord
Kids Definition
lord
1 of 2 noun ˈlȯ(ə)rd
1
a
: a person who has power and authority
especially : a ruler to whom service and obedience are due
b
: a person from whom a feudal estate is held
2
capitalized
a
: god sense 1
b
: jesus
3
: a man of rank or high position: as
a
: a feudal tenant holding his estate directly from the king
b
: a British nobleman or a bishop entitled to sit in the House of Lords —used as a title
c
plural capitalized : house of lords
lord
2 of 2 verb : to act as if having the rank or power of a lord : domineer —used with it
lording it over her younger brothers
lords
noun
1
as in magnates
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field as lords of the local real estate scene, they own nearly all of the city's prime pieces of property Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- magnates
- tycoons
- kings
- barons
- princes
- czars
- monarchs
- lions
- moguls
- captains
- tsars
- tzars
- stars
- figures
- bigwigs
- nawabs
- notables
- nabobs
- personages
- heavyweights
- gods
- deities
- Napoleons
- big shots
- big guns
- kahunas
- supremos
- big boys
- biggies
- superstars
- heavies
- big wheels
- celebrities
- honchos
- big cheeses
- poo-bahs
- fat cats
- demigods
- main men
- personalities
- pooh-bahs
- VIPs
- movers and shakers
- bigfeet
- bigfoots
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subordinates
- underlings
- lightweights
- inferiors
- small-timers
- nobodies
- half-pints
- zeroes
- zeros
2
as in noblemen
a man of high birth or social position lords and ladies arriving at the palace Synonyms & Similar Words
- noblemen
- gentlemen
- grandees
- knights
- princes
- milords
- peers
- barons
- squires
- chevaliers
- seigneurs
- earls
- dukes
- baronets
- esquires
- viscounts
- cavaliers
- sheiks
- lordships
- sheikhs
- nawabs
- marquises
- hidalgos
- princelings
- nabobs
- masters
- country gentlemen
- margraves
- marquesses
- rajas
- marquis
- seigniors
- dons
- princelets
- counts
- marchesi
- sires
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- peasants
- peons
- commoners
- churls
- plebeians
- plebs
- cotters
- fellaheen
- boors
- fellahin
- peones
- cottars
- proletarians
- toilers