2
: a natural or artificial enclosed space or cavity
3
a
: a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body
the senate chamber
b
: a room where a judge transacts business
—usually used in plural
c
: the reception room of a person of rank or authority
4
a
: a legislative or judicial body
especially
: either of the houses of a bicameral legislature
b
: a voluntary board or council
5
a
: the part of the bore of a gun that holds the charge
b
: a compartment in the cartridge cylinder of a revolver
chambered; chambering
ˈchām-b(ə-)riŋ 
1
: to place in or as if in a chamber : house
2
: to serve as a chamber for
especially
: to accommodate in the chamber of a firearm
: being, relating to, or performing chamber music
Synonyms
Examples of chamber in a Sentence
Noun
If the batteries are not properly installed in the chamber of the remote control, it won't work.
There are four chambers in the human heart.
We waited for the senator outside the Senate chamber.
The U.S. legislature is separated into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Verb
chambered the lost hikers in the barn until the next morning
Recent Examples on the Web
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
As vote totals stood Friday morning, House Republicans will hold 20 seats in the 65-member chamber.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2024
Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 30 Oct. 2024
Before that, in 1975 a member of the Manson Family cult tried to shoot President Gerald Ford at close range in Sacramento, California but failed to chamber a round into the gun.
—Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 14 July 2024
Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023
Brennan immediately dictated a note, and a terse exchange of letters on the afternoon of March 27, 1978, sent to the entire conference—all justices receiving a copy—may mark a low point in the history of intra-chamber correspondence at the Supreme Court.
—J.c. Hallman, The New Republic, 11 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for chamber 
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Noun
Both chambers are scheduled to elect their leadership teams in closed-door meetings.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
As vote totals stood Friday morning, House Republicans will hold 20 seats in the 65-member chamber.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
The 10th Judicial District has 45 judges, including Amy Brosnahan, who is chambered in Isanti County and not related to Helen Brosnahan, and roughly 365 staff, overseeing nearly 120,000 cases per year.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 30 Oct. 2024
Before that, in 1975 a member of the Manson Family cult tried to shoot President Gerald Ford at close range in Sacramento, California but failed to chamber a round into the gun.
—Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 14 July 2024
Adjective
And what sort of legislative horse trading will have to happen to make the always-complex inter-chamber politics between the House and Senate work?
—Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023
Brennan immediately dictated a note, and a terse exchange of letters on the afternoon of March 27, 1978, sent to the entire conference—all justices receiving a copy—may mark a low point in the history of intra-chamber correspondence at the Supreme Court.
—J.c. Hallman, The New Republic, 11 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for chamber
Articles Related to chamber
Dictionary Entries Near chamber
Cite this Entry
“Chamber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chamber. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chamber
1 of 2 noun
cham·ber
ˈchām-bər
1
: a room in a house and especially a bedroom
2
: an enclosed space or compartment
the chamber of a pistol
the chambers of the heart
3
a
: a meeting hall of a government body (as an assembly)
b
: a room where a judge conducts business out of court
—usually used in plural
4
a
: a group of people organized into a lawmaking body
the lower chamber of the legislature
b
: a board or council of volunteers (as businesspeople)
Etymology
Noun
Middle English chambre "chamber," from early French chambre (same meaning), from Latin camera "room, chamber" — related to camera
Medical Definition
chamber
noun
cham·ber
ˈchām-bər
: an enclosed space within the body of an animal see anterior chamber, posterior chamber, pulp chamber, vitreous chamber
Legal Definition
chamber
noun
cham·ber
1
: a judge's office
specifically
: the private office where a judge carries on business other than court sessions (as conferences or signing papers)
—usually used in pl.
four other judges met in my chambers —R. H. Bork
R. H. Bork a hearing in chambers
2
a
: a hall for the meetings of a deliberative, legislative, or judicial body or assembly
to run back into the House chamber—Tip O'Neill
Tip O'Neill
b
: a legislative or judicial body : house
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