dominate

[ dom-uh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

1. to rule over; govern; control.
2. to tower above; overlook; overshadow:

   A tall pine dominated the landscape.

3. to predominate, permeate, or characterize.
4. Mathematics. (of a series, vector, etc.) to have terms or components greater in absolute value than the corresponding terms or components of a given series, vector, etc.
5. Linguistics. (of a node in a tree diagram) to be connected with (a subordinate node) either directly by a single downward branch or indirectly by a sequence of downward branches.

verb (used without object)

, dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

1. to rule; exercise control; predominate.
2. to occupy a commanding or elevated position.

dominate

/ ˈdɒmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)
2. to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook
3. tr; usually passive to predominate in (something or someone)

Derived Forms

• ˈdominative, adjective
• ˈdomiˌnating, adjective
• ˈdomiˌnator, noun
• ˈdomiˌnatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• domi·nating·ly adverb
• domi·nator noun
• non·domi·nating adjective
• over·domi·nate verb (used with object) overdominated overdominating
• re·domi·nate verb redominated redominating
• un·domi·nated adjective
• well-domi·nated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dominate¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dominātus, past participle of dominārī “to master, control,” from domin(us) “lord, master” + -ārī, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of dominate¹

C17: from Latin dominārī to be lord over, from dominus lord

Example Sentences

Although nearly half of Fresno County is dominated by agriculture, the city of Fresno is California’s fifth-largest city and long ago shed its identity as a quaint farm town.

From Los Angeles Times

As a result, he dominated news coverage, looking bolder and badder than ever and leaving the Democrats looking like sputtering, defensive, fact-checking, umbrage-filled morality police.

From Salon

Global production is currently dominated by West Africa, where Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana between them produce more than half of the world's annual output.

From BBC

Despite this, the Western ideology that dominates Canadian laws has often considered Indigenous people’s impact on some of this land to be trivial, and so discounts their land rights.

From Science Magazine

For years, the UK’s relationship with China has been poor, dominated by rows about democracy in Hong Kong, human rights in Xinjiang and cyber threats against UK bodies.

From BBC

Related Words

• command
• control
• dictate
• influence
• lead
• manage
• monopolize
• overshadow
• prevail
• run