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

The team got lucky during the musical chairs of last season, which netted multi-race winner Carlos Sainz to pair with Alex Albon. —Rob Reed, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

This whole game of designer musical chairs means that designers are really at the center of the conversation. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 4 Mar. 2025

Banijay Arranges ‘Game Of Chairs’ Banijay Entertainment’s latest format is a shiny-floor twist on the game of musical chairs. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025

Last year was a stellar one for movies, but the Oscars banquet table can seat only so many contenders — bagging a nomination becomes a frantic game of musical chairs. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for musical chairs

• concessionaires
• affaires
• affairs
• armchairs
• bulgars
• compares
• crosshairs
• declares
• despairs
• downstairs
• forbears
• forebears