English vocabulary · B2
Preside
/prɪˈzaɪd/ · v.
It means to be in charge of a meeting or a ceremony.
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Example sentences
- She will preside over the big meeting.
- The judge will preside at the court trial.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- pre — before (from Latin)
- sedere — to sit (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- lead (guiding a group toward a goal)
- direct (managing and making key decisions)
- head (holding the top position in a group)
Words with the same root
sedere — to sit
- reside — to sit and stay in a place — to live somewhere
- sedentary — doing a lot of sitting — not physically active
- session — a period of sitting together — a meeting or gathering
Lesson notes
Preside. It means to be in charge of a meeting or a ceremony. You sit in the main chair and guide the group.
Similar words are lead, direct, and head. Use preside when you run a formal event.
She will preside over the big meeting. The judge will preside at the court trial.
Preside splits into two roots. 'Pre' means before, 'side' means to sit. Sitting before the group to lead, you preside.