preside
gb/pɹɪzˈaɪd/ us/pɹɪzˈaɪd/
B2
English
~ 7500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
lead or chair a meeting
To lead and control a formal meeting or event.
Usage pattern:
to preside over [a meeting / an event / the proceedings]
Common mistake:
Learners often say *"preside on"* or *"preside in"* instead of the correct *"preside over"* when talking about meetings or events. Another mistake is using *"preside"* for casual situations where a simpler verb like *"lead"* or *"run"* is more natural (e.g., "He presided over the family dinner" sounds overly formal).
Synonyms
chair (Common in everyday and business English for leading a meeting; slightly less formal-sounding than "preside".)
|
lead (Broader and more general; can describe guiding people in many situations, not only formal meetings.)
Antonyms
attend (Describes being present at a meeting without leading or controlling it.)
|
observe (Implies only watching an event rather than directing it.)
Collocations
preside over a meeting
|preside over the proceedings
|preside over a ceremony
|preside over a trial
|preside over a session
Themes
business
|politics
|law
|work
Examples
- The finance minister will preside over tomorrow's budget meeting.
- A panel of three judges presided over the trial.
- She was invited to preside over the opening ceremony of the new hospital.
- The chairperson presided over the heated debate with calm authority.
- An independent mediator will preside over the negotiations between the two companies.
Learner examples
- The manager will preside over the staff meeting.
- A judge will preside over the court today.
- Our teacher will preside over the school debate.
- The mayor will preside over the town ceremony.
- Two people will preside over the talks between the groups.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
head or control an organization
To be the official head of a group, organization, or system and be responsible for it.
Usage pattern:
to preside over [an organization / a department / a system / a country]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this long-term leadership sense with simply being present at an event. "He presided over the company" means he led it as its head, not that he just attended company events. Another mistake is using it in very casual contexts where "run" or "be in charge of" is more natural (e.g., "She presides over the shop" sounds too formal for everyday speech).
Synonyms
head (Very common for leading an organization or department; slightly less formal and more everyday than "preside over".)
|
govern (Used especially for countries or large systems; stresses exercising political power rather than simply managing.)
Antonyms
serve under (Emphasizes being in a lower position in an organization rather than being in charge of it.)
|
be subject to (Highlights being controlled by a system or authority instead of controlling it.)
Collocations
preside over a company
|preside over an administration
|preside over a period of growth
|preside over a department
|preside over an economy
Themes
business
|politics
|economy
|work
Examples
- She now presides over a global charity with offices in twenty countries.
- The prime minister has presided over a period of rapid economic growth.
- He presided over the company for more than three decades.
- Critics say the board presided over years of mismanagement and waste.
- A caretaker government will preside over the country until new elections are held.
Learner examples
- She presides over a large company with 500 workers.
- He presided over the school for ten years as principal.
- The new president will preside over many big changes.
- The team leader presides over all the projects in this office.
- They say he presided over a time of great success for the business.
Verb
literary
C2
state
3
stand over or dominate a scene
To seem to stand over a place or situation as the main or strongest thing there.
Usage pattern:
to preside over [a place / a scene / a situation]
Common mistake:
Learners may take this meaning too literally and expect an actual leader to be present. In sentences like "A large painting presided over the room," the verb is figurative: the painting is not leading anything, but it is the main or most powerful feature in the room.
Synonyms
dominate (More common and direct; lacks the slightly formal, descriptive tone of "preside over".)
|
loom over (Suggests physically hanging over something, often with a threatening feel, while "preside" can be more neutral or dignified.)
Antonyms
blend into (Means to not stand out or be noticeable in a place, the opposite of presiding over it.)
Collocations
preside over the room
|preside over the landscape
|preside over the scene
|preside over the silence
Themes
literature
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A huge portrait of the founder presided over the dining room.
- Snow-capped mountains preside over the small village below.
- A tense silence presided over the courtroom as the verdict was read.
- In the center of the square, a bronze statue presided over the busy crowds.
- Dark clouds presided over the city, adding to the feeling of unease.
Learner examples
- A large painting presided over the room.
- High mountains preside over the town.
- A big old tree presides over the small park.
- A heavy silence presided over the meeting room.
- The tall statue presides over the main street.
Grammar
Dictionary form
preside
IPA
GB/pɹɪzˈaɪd/
US/pɹɪzˈaɪd/
Syllables & stress
preside (1 syllable)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: preside
- 3rd Person Singular: presides
- Present Participle: presiding
- Past: presided
Word family
Forms
presides
verb
presiding
verb
presided
verb
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unpresidential
adjective
Expressions
preside at
1/pɹɪzˈaɪd ˈæt/
phrasal verb
formal
lead a formal ceremony
To be the official person who leads a formal ceremony or event.
Examples
- The bishop will preside at the wedding service.
- Several senior officials presided at the opening of the new bridge.
preside over
1/pɹɪzˈaɪd ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
formal
be in charge of something
To lead and have control of a meeting, event, organization, or situation.
Examples
- The judge will preside over the trial next week.
- She has been asked to preside over the international conference on climate change.
- During his time in office, he presided over major reforms of the education system.
presiding judge
1/pɹɪzˈaɪdɪŋ d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
formal
judge in charge of a court
The judge who is officially in charge of a court or a particular trial.
Examples
- The presiding judge ordered the jury to disregard the last comment.
- The presiding judge will decide on the sentence next week.