king
KIHNGG
King (noun) means a male monarch who rules a country, typically inheriting the position by birth. Example: “The king was crowned in a grand ceremony at the cathedral.”
noun
1
A male monarch who rules a country, typically inheriting the position by birth.
"The king was crowned in a grand ceremony at the cathedral."
"The young prince will one day become king."
"The old king ruled the land wisely for many years."
2
The most important or dominant person or thing in a particular field.
"He was regarded as the undisputed king of jazz guitar."
"She is the king of pastry in our town, and everyone queues for her bakery."
"The old chef was known as the king of slow cooking."
3
The most important piece in chess, which must be protected from checkmate to avoid losing the game.
"She moved her king to safety in the corner of the board."
"He lost the game because his king had nowhere left to run."
"Always keep your king protected before you attack with your other pieces."
4
A playing card ranked just below the ace, showing an image of a king.
"He drew the king of hearts on his final turn."
"I held a king and a queen, so I felt hopeful."
"In this game, the king beats the queen but loses to the ace."
verb
1
To make someone king; to crown as monarch.
"He was kinged in a ceremony attended by nobles from across the land."
"The council kinged the eldest son after his father's long reign."
"In the play, the fool is briefly kinged for a single night."
How to use king
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe male ruler of a country, or, more loosely, whoever or whatever is dominant in a certain area.
Common pairings
crown a king
king of the castle
king-size bed
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like king.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- kings
- Third person singular
- kings
- Past tense
- kinged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ was crowned in a grand ceremony at the cathedral.
Etymology
From Old English cyning, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "of the kin/clan" — a king was originally seen as leader of the people or family group, not just ruler of land.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for king
See all rhymes for king →Frequently asked questions
What does “king” mean?
The word “king” means a male monarch who rules a country, typically inheriting the position by birth. In plain terms, the male ruler of a country, or, more loosely, whoever or whatever is dominant in a certain area.
How do you pronounce “king”?
“King” is pronounced KIHNGG (/ˈkɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “king” in a sentence?
Here is “king” used in a sentence: “The king was crowned in a grand ceremony at the cathedral.”
What is another word for “king”?
Words with a similar meaning to “king” include Rex and roy.
What part of speech is “king”?
Depending on how it is used, “king” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “king” come from?
The word “king” comes from Old English. From Old English cyning, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "of the kin/clan" — a king was originally seen as leader of the people or family group, not just ruler of land.
Is “king” a common word?
“King” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “king” have?
“King” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male monarch who rules a country, typically inheriting the position by birth.
What is the difference between a king and an emperor?
A king rules a single kingdom or country, usually one nation or people. An emperor holds a higher rank, ruling an empire made up of several territories, kingdoms, or peoples brought under one crown. Every emperor outranks a king, and an emperor often governs lands that include kings beneath him.
What is the difference between a king and a queen?
A king is a male monarch, while a queen is either a female monarch who rules in her own right or the wife of a reigning king. A king almost always inherits the throne through the male line, whereas a queen may rule by inheritance, marriage, or succession when no male heir exists.
Does a king always inherit the throne?
Usually, yes. Most kings inherit the crown by birth, passing from parent to child in a hereditary line of succession. However, some men have become king through conquest, election by nobles, or marriage to a ruling queen. Inheritance is the typical route, but it is not the only way the title has been gained.
Is 'king' only used for royalty?
No. Beyond the literal monarch, 'king' is widely used figuratively to mean the best or most dominant in a field, as in 'the king of pop' or 'cash is king.' It also names the most important piece in chess and the highest-ranking court card in a deck.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include king:
