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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The confirmation hearing comes after a musical chairs of sorts in the Trump administration; Trump nominated Waltz to serve as U.N. ambassador in May, relieving him of his duties of national security adviser following the Signal controversy. Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 July 2025 So this is something like playing musical chairs while dancing a do-si-do. Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025 Fear of the second apron and the ability to use MLEs as trade exceptions may have ended the game of free-agent musical chairs early. Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 Red Bull playing driver musical chairs for its second seat? Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for musical chairs

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of musical chairs was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Musical chairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musical%20chairs. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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