preside
verb
pre·side pri-ˈzīd 
presided; presiding
intransitive verb
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
a
: to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator
b
: to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman
3
: to occupy a position of featured instrumental performer —usually used with at
presided at the organ
presider noun
Synonyms
- boss
- captain
- command
- control
- govern
- rule
- sway [archaic]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Court is now in session, Justice Raul Fernandez presiding.
Recent Examples on the Web Appellate courts such as the 9th Circuit are not designed to preside over new evidence gathering or fact finding in cases. 
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Liz Truss, who won a bitter battle to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister, is set to preside over a historic moment: For the first time, there is unlikely to be a White man holding one of Britain’s four top seats of political power. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 But Blakely’s attorneys disagree and say Alabama law required that Judge Baschab be licensed by the Bar to preside over the trial. Ashley Remkus | Aremkus@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2022 Reinhart did not choose to preside over the Mar-a-Lago case; magistrates are assigned at random. Arden Farhi, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2022 Craven said Texarkana's unique geography provided her the opportunity to preside over matters in Arkansas as well as in Texas. Arkansas Online, 31 May 2022 Francis was to preside over a liturgy of the word service there late Tuesday and bless the waters. Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, 26 July 2022 Morgan was welcomed to preside over the Las Vegas Raiders by team owner and managing general partner Mark Davis at a press conference on Thursday. Rivea Ruff, Essence, 8 July 2022 On Friday, he is expected to return to the city to preside over the inauguration of John Lee, a former policeman and bureaucrat, as Hong Kong’s new leader. WSJ, 30 June 2022 See More
Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Liz Truss, who won a bitter battle to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister, is set to preside over a historic moment: For the first time, there is unlikely to be a White man holding one of Britain’s four top seats of political power. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 But Blakely’s attorneys disagree and say Alabama law required that Judge Baschab be licensed by the Bar to preside over the trial. Ashley Remkus | Aremkus@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2022 Reinhart did not choose to preside over the Mar-a-Lago case; magistrates are assigned at random. Arden Farhi, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2022 Craven said Texarkana's unique geography provided her the opportunity to preside over matters in Arkansas as well as in Texas. Arkansas Online, 31 May 2022 Francis was to preside over a liturgy of the word service there late Tuesday and bless the waters. Nicole Winfield, Anchorage Daily News, 26 July 2022 Morgan was welcomed to preside over the Las Vegas Raiders by team owner and managing general partner Mark Davis at a press conference on Thursday. Rivea Ruff, Essence, 8 July 2022 On Friday, he is expected to return to the city to preside over the inauguration of John Lee, a former policeman and bureaucrat, as Hong Kong’s new leader. WSJ, 30 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin praesidēre to guard, preside over, from prae- + sedēre to sit — more at sit
First Known Use
1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing preside
Kids Definition
preside
verb
pre·side pri-ˈzīd
presided; presiding
: to be in charge
He presided over the meeting.
She will preside over the company.
Legal Definition
preside
intransitive verb
pre·side pri-ˈzīd
presided; presiding
1
: to exercise guidance, direction, or control
2
: to occupy the place of authority : direct or regulate proceedings as chief officer
presiding
adjective
as in chief
highest in rank or authority a senator who is the presiding member of the armed services committee Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chief
- commanding
- supreme
- leading
- foremost
- senior
- principal
- lead
- top
- head
- primary
- first
- high
- prime
- reigning
- premier
- in charge
- officiating
- managing
- ruling
- preeminent
- main
- overseeing
- directing
- controlling
- supervisory
- supereminent
- sovereign
- predominant
- paramount
- dominant
- predominate
- ascendant
- high-level
- regnant
- major
- upper
- grand
- uppermost
- ascendent
- superior
- sovran
- topmost
- upmost
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subordinate
- second
- last
- lower
- less
- lesser
- ancillary
- secondary
- subsidiary
- deputy
- assistant
- inferior
- lowly
- assisting
- junior
- under
- coadjutor