musical chairs

noun

plural in form but singular in construction

: a game in which players march to music around a row of chairs numbering one less than the players and scramble for seats when the music stops

also : a situation or series of events suggesting the game of musical chairs (as in rapid change or confusing activity)

Examples of musical chairs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This extra, low-effort step makes guests feel especially welcome, as well as nips any potential musical chairs awkwardness in the bud. —

Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2024 For example, swap paper or cardboard targets for seats, and musical chairs can become musical frogs on lily pads, dogs in dog houses, butterflies on flowers, bumblebees in hives, and so on. —

Catherine Holecko, Parents, 30 July 2024 But pressure is building for a citywide approach as more districts impose parking restrictions, forcing homeless people to play a nightly game of musical chairs to find a place to sleep. —

Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024 Major League Baseball has also been a victim of its offseason musical chairs success. —

Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for musical chairs

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'musical chairs.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of musical chairs was in 1877

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Musical chairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musical%20chairs. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.

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