Meaning & use

preside

verb·Academic

To be in charge of or control a meeting, ceremony, or organization.

See it in a sentence

The retired judge was asked to preside over the trial because of her experience.

The mayor presided over the opening ceremony for the new library.

A note on using this word

Preside is usually followed by 'over', as in 'preside over a meeting', and often implies formal authority.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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