king
king — noun
1. A man who rules a country as its highest leader, usually because he was born int
A man who rules a country as its highest leader, usually because he was born into a royal family and inherited the position from a parent.
King Charles III became the monarch of the United Kingdom after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
article + title: 'King [Name] [numeral]'
The young king sat on his golden throne and listened carefully to the requests of his people.
In many old stories, the king lived in a stone castle with thick walls and tall towers.
collocation: king + castle / throne / crown
The king signed a new law that gave more land and water rights to local farmers.
Citizens lined the streets of the capital to welcome the king and queen as they rode through the city.
collocation: king and queen
- king of + country
- crown
- throne
- king and queen
- reign
Usage Note
The title King is always capitalised when used before a name (King Abdullah) or as a direct form of address ('Your Majesty'). When referring to the role in general, lowercase is used ('a king must serve his people').
Common Mistakes
2. A person, animal, or thing widely recognised as the top figure within a particul
A person, animal, or thing widely recognised as the top figure within a particular group, sport, business, or field of activity.
Many fans call Pelé the king of football because of his incredible skill on the field.
pattern: king of + [domain]
The lion is often called the king of the jungle, but lions actually live on grasslands and savannas.
In the world of jazz music, Louis Armstrong was known as the king of the trumpet.
The king of spices, saffron, costs more than gold when you compare it by weight.
metaphorical: king of spices
For fans of mystery novels, that author from Japan is the undisputed king of suspense.
- king of
- undisputed king
- crowned king
- reigning king
Grammar Patterns
king of + noun phrase
Usage Note
This sense is almost always used with 'the' and followed by 'of + [domain]'. Common in sports journalism, entertainment writing, and nature documentaries. The subject is often a group or category rather than an individual political entity.
Common Mistakes
3. In chess, each player has one king piece. When a king is cornered with no way to
In chess, each player has one king piece. When a king is cornered with no way to escape, that player loses. The king travels just one step per turn, in any direction.
In chess, you lose the game if your king is trapped and cannot move to a safe square.
passive: king is trapped / king is captured
Selim moved his king one square forward to avoid a check from his opponent's rook.
The king is the tallest piece on the board and often has a small cross on top.
In the final move of the match, Yasmin's queen protected her king from a dangerous check.
Beginners should learn how to castle early to keep their king safe behind a wall of pawns.
collocation: king + castle / check / checkmate
- king safety
- king side
- check the king
- king and pawn
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1 (MALE RULER): in chess writing, 'king' is never capitalised and always refers to the game piece. Frequently appears in the compound 'king safety' (strategy of protecting one's king from attack).
Common Mistakes
4. A playing card that features a crowned king figure. In most card games, it ranks
A playing card that features a crowned king figure. In most card games, it ranks above the queen and below the ace.
Élise won the round when she drew the king of hearts from the deck of cards.
pattern: king of + [suit]
In poker, a hand with two kings and three smaller cards is called a pair of kings.
Adaeze placed the king of spades on top of the pile and smiled at her good luck.
king of spades — card-game narrative with named player
The king of diamonds shows a king facing left with a diamond symbol above his crowned head.
Camila kept the king of clubs hidden in her hand until the very last moment of the game.
- king of hearts
- king of spades
- king of diamonds
- king of clubs
- pair of kings
Usage Note
Always lowercase unless starting a sentence. The four suits produce: king of hearts, king of diamonds, king of clubs, king of spades. In some games (e.g. poker), the king is sometimes abbreviated as 'K'.
Common Mistakes
5. In the game of checkers (also called draughts), a piece that has reached the opp
In the game of checkers (also called draughts), a piece that has reached the opponent's back row and been promoted. It can now move and capture in any diagonal direction, unlike a regular piece that only moves forward.
When Kabir's piece reached the far end of the board, he stacked it to crown it as a king.
process: crown / promote to make a king
A king in checkers can move in any diagonal direction, making it stronger than a regular piece.
Dewi thought carefully before moving her king diagonally across the board to capture two pieces.
Having two kings on the board gave Aoi a clear advantage over his opponent in the final round.
In a close game of checkers, the player with more kings at the end usually wins.
advantage: more kings = winning position
- crown a king
- king me
- double king
- king row
- crowned piece
descriptive term for a promoted checker
- regular piece
an uncrowned checker that can only move forward
- man
term for an uncrowned checker in draughts
Usage Note
This sense applies only in the game of checkers / draughts, not in chess. In British English the game is usually called 'draughts' and the promoted piece is sometimes called a 'crowned piece' or 'double piece' instead of 'king'.
Common Mistakes
6. Riley B. King (1925–2015), known professionally as B.B. King, an American blues
Riley B. King (1925–2015), known professionally as B.B. King, an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was famous for his expressive guitar style and for popularising the blues worldwide.
B.B. King named his guitar Lucille, and it became one of the most famous instruments in blues music.
The audience cheered when B.B. King played his famous song 'The Thrill Is Gone' on stage.
notable song: 'The Thrill Is Gone'
B.B. King won fifteen Grammy Awards and entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
B.B. King performed more than ten thousand concerts during his long music career.
7. Billie Jean King (born 1943), an American former professional tennis player. She
Billie Jean King (born 1943), an American former professional tennis player. She won 39 Grand Slam titles and became famous for her fight for gender equality in sports.
Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in the famous 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match of 1973.
historical event: Battle of the Sexes
Billie Jean King helped start the Women's Tennis Association and demanded equal prize money for all players.
The main tennis stadium in New York is named after Billie Jean King.
Billie Jean King won twenty Wimbledon titles over the course of her tennis career.
8. Ernest Joseph King (1878–1956), an American naval officer who served as the Chie
Ernest Joseph King (1878–1956), an American naval officer who served as the Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet during World War II.
Ernest J. King was a top American naval leader during the war in the Pacific.
WWII role: Commander of US Fleet
Admiral King helped plan major naval operations that turned the tide of World War II at sea.
King took command of the US Navy shortly after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.
Ernest J. King was known for his strict discipline and sharp strategic thinking.
9. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), an American Christian minister and civil rig
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), an American Christian minister and civil rights leader. He led non-violent protests against racial segregation and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech during the March on Washington.
famous speech: 'I Have a Dream'
Martin Luther King Jr. believed in peaceful protest and fought for equal rights for all people.
Every January, Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honour his life and work.
King wrote his 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' to explain why people must oppose unfair laws.
Usage Note
Commonly referred to as 'Dr. King' or 'Martin Luther King' in shorter references. His full name includes 'Jr.' to distinguish him from his father, Martin Luther King Sr., who was also a minister.
Common Mistakes
10. Rufus King (1755–1827), an American politician and diplomat. He was a delegate t
Rufus King (1755–1827), an American politician and diplomat. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, a US Senator, and an ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Rufus King helped write the United States Constitution in 1787.
founding role: Constitutional Convention delegate
Rufus King served as a US Senator and later as the American ambassador to Britain.
Rufus King argued strongly against slavery during debates in the Senate.
As a young lawyer, Rufus King built a successful legal practice in Massachusetts.
11. Stephen King (born 1947), an American author of horror, suspense, and fantasy no
Stephen King (born 1947), an American author of horror, suspense, and fantasy novels. He is one of the best-selling writers of all time, with books like 'The Shining' and 'It'.
Stephen King has written more than sixty novels and many have been made into popular films.
prolific output: 60+ novels
Readers love Stephen King's horror stories because the plots are so exciting and frightening.
Stephen King's novel 'The Shining' tells the story of a family trapped in a lonely hotel.
Fans of Stephen King look forward to each new book that he publishes every year.
Usage Note
Often referred to as 'the King of Horror' — this uses the TOP PERSON/THING sense. His works are frequently studied in popular culture courses at universities.
12. William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950), a Canadian statesman who served as the
William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950), a Canadian statesman who served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II.
Mackenzie King was Canada's longest-serving prime minister, leading for more than twenty years.
notable: longest-serving Canadian PM
Prime Minister Mackenzie King worked closely with Winston Churchill during World War II.
Mackenzie King introduced social programs that helped Canadian workers during the Depression.
King kept a detailed diary every day from 1893 until his death in 1950.
Usage Note
Commonly referred to as 'Mackenzie King' rather than 'William King'. His grand-uncle was William Lyon Mackenzie, a leader of the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada.
13. William Rufus de Vane King (1786–1853), an American politician who served as the
William Rufus de Vane King (1786–1853), an American politician who served as the 13th Vice President of the United States under President Franklin Pierce.
William R. King was the only US vice president to take the oath of office in a foreign country.
unique fact: sworn in abroad
Senator King represented Alabama in Washington for much of his political career.
William R. King served as a US Senator from Alabama for nearly thirty years.
King was elected vice president in 1852 but died soon after taking office.
a king’s ransom
idiomAn extremely large amount of money, often used to describe a very high price or cost.
The painting sold for a king's ransom at the auction.
She paid a king's ransom for that vintage car.
A person who is considered the best or most important in a particular field or activity, even without an official title.
Maya is the uncrowned queen of modern dance.
Many call him the uncrowned king of jazz music.
king — adjective
1. Appearing before the common name of an animal or plant to indicate that it is th
Appearing before the common name of an animal or plant to indicate that it is the largest, most impressive, or most powerful type within that group.
The king cobra can grow more than five metres long and is the longest venomous snake on Earth.
compound: king cobra / king penguin / king crab
King penguins are the second largest type of penguin, after the emperor penguin.
The king crab is very popular in seafood restaurants because of its large and tasty legs.
At the aquarium, the children were amazed by the size of the king salmon swimming past the glass.
The king parrot is a bright red bird found in the rainforests of eastern Australia.
pattern: king + [common animal name] = larger species
- king cobra
- king penguin
- king crab
- king salmon
- king parrot
Grammar Patterns
king + [animal/plant name]
Usage Note
This adjective only appears in established compound names (king cobra, king penguin, king crab, king salmon, king parrot). Do not invent new compounds. Always comes directly before the noun without 'of' (compare the noun sense).
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words describe a person who holds supreme authority over a territory, but they differ in scope and formality. 'King' is the most common and specific term for a male hereditary head of a country. 'Monarch' is a gender-neutral formal term covering kings, queens, and emperors — it emphasises the institution rather than the person. 'Sovereign' is the most formal and legalistic of the group, focusing on the idea of independent supreme authority without any higher power. 'Ruler' is the broadest term and can apply to any leader of a country, including elected presidents and dictators, not just royalty. 'Emperor' is reserved for a monarch who rules an empire, typically larger than a kingdom. For example: Queen Elizabeth II was a monarch and sovereign of the UK, but she was not an emperor. A military dictator is a ruler but not a king.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'king' comes from Old English 'cyning', which goes back to a Germanic root meaning 'son of the kin' or 'leader of the family group'. This root is related to the word 'kin' (family). The idea was that the king was the head or representative of the tribe or clan. Across Germanic languages, similar words appear: Old Saxon 'kuning', Old High German 'kuning' (modern German 'König'), Old Norse 'konungr'. The basic concept of a leader chosen from or representing the kinship group has been remarkably stable for over a thousand years.