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 onslaught has led to a musical chairs of lawsuits and settlements—and, occasionally, partnerships—between the Big Three labels and the AI startups attempting to crib their artists’ styles. —Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026

McManus provided stability to the Packers’ post-Mason Crosby musical chairs at kicker, hitting 20 of 21 field goals for the rest of the 2024 regular season (3-of-3 from 50-plus and 3-of-4 from 40-49 with his lone miss coming from 46 yards in the rain at Lambeau Field against the Detroit Lions). —Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

In one vignette, this trio puts a vaudevillian spin on Goldilocks’ Three Bears, who emerge from a painting at night to play a game of musical chairs. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Instead of reshoring operations entirely, American businesses appear to be engaging in a costly game of musical chairs. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026

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