chess
2 synonyms for chess, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A strategy board game for two players, played on a chequered board with sixteen pieces per side, aiming to trap (checkmate) the opponent's king.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
chess game
How to use chess
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
play chess
chess board
chess piece
chess club
Etymology
Traces back through Old French eschec to Persian shah, "king" — the piece whose capture ends the game. "Check," "checkmate," and "exchequer" share the same root.
Full origin of chess →Frequently asked questions
What does “chess” mean?
The word “chess” means a strategy board game for two players, played on a chequered board with sixteen pieces per side, aiming to trap (checkmate) the opponent's king. In plain terms, the classic two-player game played on a black-and-white board with kings, queens, and other pieces.
How do you pronounce “chess”?
“Chess” is pronounced chehs (/t͡ʃɛs/ in IPA).
How do you use “chess” in a sentence?
Here is “chess” used in a sentence: “They played chess for hours in the park.”
What part of speech is “chess”?
“Chess” is a noun.
Where does the word “chess” come from?
The word “chess” comes from Old French. Traces back through Old French eschec to Persian shah, "king" — the piece whose capture ends the game. "Check," "checkmate," and "exchequer" share the same root.
Is “chess” a common word?
“Chess” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between chess and checkers?
Both are strategy board games played on a chequered board, but chess uses sixteen different pieces per side, each with its own way of moving, with the aim of checkmating the king. Checkers, also called draughts, uses identical pieces that move and capture in a much simpler way.
