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commanding definition

com·mand·ing (kə man′diŋ, -män′-)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

command

adjective

  1. having authority; controlling or dominating
  2. impressive, esp. in a dignified or imperial way
  3. controlling or dominating by position a commanding hilltop
  4. very large a commanding lead

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

commanding Synonyms

commanding

modif.

  1. Imposing

    authoritative, dominant, dictatorial, imperious; see absolute 3, autocratic 1, masterful, powerful 1.

  2. In command

    in charge, at the helm, at the head, chief; see administrative, governing, managing, powerful 1.


commanding

n.

leading, directing, controlling, steering, guiding, determining, ordering, charging, ruling, enjoining, decreeing, instructing, dictating, forbidding, issuing, dominating, overruling, compelling, managing, checking, curbing, forcing, coercing, requiring, restraining, having dominion over, being in command, being in authority, regulating; see also command 2, government 1.

Antonyms obeying, yielding*, submitting.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

commanding Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • eminence: Alport Hill is a commanding eminence, said to be the highest point in South Derbyshire.

Modifying Another Word

  • very: Her broad sword is held high and she looks very commanding.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: Her broad sword is held high and she looks very commanding.
commanding usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"commanding." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/commanding>

APA Style

commanding. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/commanding

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