preside

preside — verb

1. to act as the official leader of a formal event such as a meeting, court session

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to act as the official leader of a formal event such as a meeting, court session, or ceremony, guiding it through the planned order of business

Example

Chief Justice Adaeze presided over the Supreme Court hearing early this morning.

preside + over + [court/proceeding]

Professor Faisal is expected to preside at the international education conference in June.

preside + at + [conference]

Common collocations
  • preside over a meeting
  • preside at a ceremony
  • preside over a trial
  • preside over a session
Synonyms
  • chair

    less formal and more common for business meetings; 'chair a meeting' vs. 'preside over a meeting'

  • officiate

    used specifically for ceremonies such as weddings or funerals, with a more ritualistic feel

  • moderate

    focuses on keeping a discussion or debate balanced and on track, rather than overall authority

Grammar Patterns

preside + over + [event]

preside + at + [event]

Usage Note

Frequently used with the prepositions 'over' or 'at' to introduce the event. The subject is typically a person holding a formal position such as a judge, chairperson, or ceremony leader.

Common Mistakes

The mayor presided the ceremony.
The mayor presided over the ceremony.
preside always needs a preposition (over or at); it never takes a direct object.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four verbs describe leading a formal gathering, but they differ in scope and register. 'Preside' is the most formal and broadest — it fits courts, ceremonies, and large official meetings. 'Chair' is less formal and typically used for committee meetings or discussions where the leader keeps order and moves through an agenda. 'Officiate' is narrower and ritual-focused: you officiate a wedding, funeral, or religious service, not a budget meeting. 'Moderate' applies mainly to debates, panels, or discussions where the role is to ensure balanced participation rather than to exercise authority. For example, a judge presides over a courtroom but a talk-show host moderates a panel discussion.

preside ↗chair ↗officiatemoderate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • preside over a meeting
  • preside at a ceremony

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'praesidere', meaning 'to sit before' — formed from 'prae-' (before) and 'sedere' (to sit). The image is of a person sitting at the head of a gathering, in a position of authority. The word entered English through French in the early 1600s, originally referring to sitting in judgment or governing a proceeding.