chess: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral (used in formal, informal, and technical contexts related to the game).
Quick answer
What does “chess” mean?
A two-player strategy board game played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid, where each player commands an army of 16 pieces with different movement rules, aiming to checkmate the opponent's king.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A two-player strategy board game played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid, where each player commands an army of 16 pieces with different movement rules, aiming to checkmate the opponent's king.
Used metaphorically to denote a situation involving complex strategic manoeuvring, foresight, and indirect competition, as in "office politics is like a game of chess". Also refers to the abstract intellectual activity or community surrounding the game.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciation differs (see IPA). The phrase "chess set" is universal.
Connotations
Identical connotations of intellect, strategy, and complexity in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency and identical usage patterns.
Grammar
How to Use “chess” in a Sentence
play + chessa game/match/tournament of + chessbe good at + chessteach/learn + chessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chess” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was accused of trying to chess his way through the negotiations.
- (Note: 'chess' as a verb is highly non-standard and used only in creative/figurative contexts)
American English
- The general chessed his opponents by feigning a retreat.
- (Note: 'chess' as a verb is highly non-standard and used only in creative/figurative contexts)
adverb
British English
- He moved chessly through the bureaucratic maze. (Note: Extremely rare and non-standard)
American English
- She planned her career chessly, anticipating every opportunity. (Note: Extremely rare and non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He has a chess-like mind, always thinking several steps ahead.
- The meeting had a chessboard complexity to it.
American English
- She made a chess-inspired move in the budget discussions.
- Their rivalry was a long, chess-style duel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for strategic planning and outmanoeuvring competitors (e.g., 'The merger was a masterstroke in corporate chess.').
Academic
Studied in fields like psychology (decision-making), mathematics (game theory), and computer science (AI).
Everyday
Referring to the hobby, game, or casual metaphor for thoughtful planning (e.g., 'Choosing a university felt like a game of chess.').
Technical
Precise terminology for openings (e.g., 'Sicilian Defence'), moves (e.g., 'en passant'), and positions (e.g., 'checkmate').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chess”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chess”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chess”
- Using as a plural only (e.g., 'I like to play chesses' is incorrect). It is usually uncountable.
- Spelling confusion: 'chest' (body part/box) vs. 'chess'.
- Using 'the' unnecessarily (e.g., 'I play the chess' – incorrect unless specifying, e.g., 'the chess we played yesterday').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'I play chess'). It can be countable when referring to a type or variant (e.g., 'different historical chesse'), but this is rare.
Chess is a complex game with six different types of pieces on a 64-square board. Checkers (called 'draughts' in the UK) is a simpler game where all pieces move and capture diagonally on the dark squares only.
Not in standard usage. Occasionally, it is used figuratively and creatively (e.g., 'to chess one's way through a problem'), but this is non-standard and should be avoided in formal writing.
Because it is a universally recognised symbol of strategic thinking, planning, foresight, and indirect conflict, making it a powerful analogy for complex competitive situations in business, politics, or personal life.
A two-player strategy board game played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid, where each player commands an army of 16 pieces with different movement rules, aiming to checkmate the opponent's king.
Chess is usually neutral (used in formal, informal, and technical contexts related to the game). in register.
Chess: in British English it is pronounced /tʃɛs/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃɛs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A pawn in someone's chess game (a person used for another's advantage)”
- “It's not checkers, it's chess (the situation is complex and requires deep strategy)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CHESS board in a CHESS-e, a quiet place for a thoughtful game. The double 's' at the end can remind you of the two players sitting across from each other.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/WAR/ARGUMENT/COMPETITION IS A GAME OF CHESS (involving strategy, moves, and thinking ahead).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common conceptual metaphor associated with 'chess'?