predominate

[ pri-dom-uh-neyt ]

verb (used without object)

, pre·dom·i·nat·ed, pre·dom·i·nat·ing.

1. to be the stronger or leading element or force.
2. to have numerical superiority or advantage:

   The radicals predominate in the new legislature.

3. to surpass others in authority or influence; be preeminent:

   He predominated in the political scene.

4. to have or exert controlling power (often followed by over ):

   Good sense predominated over the impulse to fight.

   Synonyms: dominate, overrule

5. to appear more noticeable or imposing than something else:

   Blues and greens predominated in the painting.

verb (used with object)

, pre·dom·i·nat·ed, pre·dom·i·nat·ing.

1. to dominate or prevail over.

predominate

/ prɪˈdɒmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. introften foll byover to have power, influence, or control
2. intr to prevail or preponderate
3. rare.
   tr to dominate or have control over

adjective

1. See predominant
   another word for predominant

Derived Forms

• preˈdominately, adverb
• preˈdomiˌnator, noun
• preˌdomiˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• pre·dom·i·nate·ly [pri-, dom, -, uh, -nit-lee], adverb
• pre·domi·nating·ly adverb
• pre·domi·nation noun
• pre·domi·nator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of predominate¹

1585–95; < Medieval Latin praedominātus, past participle of praedominārī to predominate. See pre-, dominate

Word History and Origins

Origin of predominate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin praedominārī, from Latin prae before + dominārī to bear rule, domineer

Example Sentences

It’s this dynamic that predominates in stories about female singers—like musical soap Nashville pitting Connie Britton’s country diva against a young upstart played by Hayden Panettiere.

From Time

Their ability to shift where their water-sipping and food-making leaves predominate may also allow such trees to adapt as their climate warms and dries.

From Science News For Students

“During the so-called secession winter of 1860, it was actually Union voices that predominated in this state,” he says, adding that his research shows that sentiment remained through the war.

From Washington Post

It is far more transmissible than, and is coming to predominate over, its immediately preceding variant, Delta.

From Time

This action-packed year has been full of anxiety, excitement, challenges, and hope, but as we close out 2021 there are several predominating themes.

From Digiday

Basic services and facilities are now hard to come by; roads may be unpaved or nonexistent; children and old folks predominate.

From The Daily Beast

Not surprisingly, given the elements (brooding auteur, noir template, gulag-y setting), the darker shades of emotion predominate.

From The Daily Beast

Around Santiago, clay and sand predominate, and the soil can not be highly praised.

From Project Gutenberg

We must confess that at present the rich predominate, but the future will be for the virtuous and ingenious.

From Project Gutenberg

The horizontal lines of the architrave and cornice predominate over the vertical lines of the columns.

From Project Gutenberg

If it be narrative or descriptive, there is no definition or proof; but the development by details will predominate.

From Project Gutenberg

Let them even make some sacrifice of that buoyant feeling which, at their age, is so apt to predominate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hold sway