preside
Wield the gavel
To preside is to occupy the position of authority at a gathering or within an organization—chairing a meeting, leading a ceremony, or overseeing proceedings: The judge presides over the courtroom.
To preside over something broader is to be in charge during a particular period: She presided over the company's expansion into Asia.
The word suggests formal authority rather than hands-on management.
Single-person sitting furniture
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- conveneFormally gather together
- facilitateMake something easier
- agendaFormal discussion list
quorum · motion · deliberation · parliamentarian · Robert's Rules · floor · adjourn · committee
Exercise political control
- administerManage or dispense
- overseeManage and direct
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- helmVessel's steering mechanism
reign · tenure · administration · leadership · authority · head · rule · superintend
Control through superior strength
- tower overGreatly exceed in height
- loomFabric-making frame
- overlookMiss or commanding view
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
reign · survey · oversee · watch over · hold court · crown
Shared seating surface
- gavelSmall ceremonial hammer
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- adjudicateFormally decide a dispute
tribunal · verdict · justice · hearing · ruling · deliberation · judgment · docket
Perform formal duties
- celebrantOne who observes festivities
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- inaugurationFormal beginning ceremony
- commencementAct of starting
convocation · ordination · benediction · ritual · processional · eulogy · baptism · liturgy
chair
Single-person sitting furniture
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- conveneFormally gather together
- facilitateMake something easier
agenda · quorum · motion · deliberation · parliamentarian · Robert's Rules · floor · adjourn · committee · proceedings
govern
Exercise political control
- administerManage or dispense
- overseeManage and direct
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
helm · reign · tenure · administration · leadership · authority · head · rule · superintend · direct
dominate
Control through superior strength
- tower overGreatly exceed in height
- loomFabric-making frame
- overlookMiss or commanding view
command · reign · survey · oversee · watch over · hold court · crown
bench
Shared seating surface
- gavelSmall ceremonial hammer
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
adjudicate · tribunal · verdict · justice · hearing · ruling · deliberation · judgment · docket · appellate
officiate
Perform formal duties
- celebrantOne who observes festivities
- weddingMarriage rite and feast
- inaugurationFormal beginning ceremony
commencement · convocation · ordination · benediction · ritual · processional · eulogy · baptism · liturgy · sacrament
- Scuolamaestro, maestra, materia, banco, biblioteca
- authorityleaders, ruler, rulers, monarch, bosses
- governance verbsgovern, rule, reign, legislate, regulate
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- leadership verbslead, command, direct, manage, supervise
- officiatereferee, umpire, officiant, moderate, oversee
- vice presidentSecond-ranking executive officer
- dead presidentSlang for paper money
- Mr. PresidentNational leader's formal address
- presiding officerOne who leads meetings
- class presidentElected pupil representative
- senate presidentHead of upper legislature
president, presidency, presidents, presiding, presided, presides, presider, presidencies, vice-president