Adjacent Words

commanding definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: used of a height or viewpoint; "a commanding view of the ocean"; "looked up at the castle dominating the countryside"; "the balcony overlooking the ballroom" [syn: commanding, dominating, overlooking]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Date: 1591 1. drawing attention or priority <a commanding presence> 2. difficult to overcome <a commanding lead> • commandingly adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 dignified, exalted, impressive. 2 (of a hill or other high point) giving a wide view. 3 (of an advantage, a position, etc.) controlling; superior (has a commanding lead). Derivatives: commandingly adv.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Command Com*mand" (?; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Commanding.] [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf. Commend, Mandate.] 1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends. --Bacon. Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. --Shak. 2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead. Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries. --Macaulay. Such aid as I can spare you shall command. --Shak. 3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook. Bridges commanded by a fortified house. --Motley. Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as subject all the vale. --Shak. One side commands a view of the finest garden. --Addison. 4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to receive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price. 'Tis not in mortals to command success. --Addison. 5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.] I will command my blessing upon you. --Lev. xxv. 21. Syn: To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Commanding Com*mand"ing, a. 1. Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding officer. 2. Fitted to impress or control; as, a commanding look or presence. 3. Exalted; overlooking; having superior strategic advantages; as, a commanding position. Syn: Authoritative; imperative; imperious.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. If you are in a commanding position or situation, you are in a strong or powerful position or situation. Right now you're in a more commanding position than you have been for ages... The French vessel has a commanding lead. ADJ: usu ADJ n 2. If you describe someone as commanding, you mean that they are powerful and confident. Lovett was a tall, commanding man with a waxed gray mustache... The voice at the other end of the line was serious and commanding. = authoritative ADJ [approval] 3. see also command

Moby Thesaurus

absolute, ascendant, at the head, authoritarian, authoritative, authorized, autocratic, boss, chief, clothed with authority, compelling, competent, consequential, considerable, controlling, decretal, decretive, decretory, dictating, directing, directive, directorial, directory, dominant, duly constituted, eminent, empowered, ex officio, general, governing, great, guiding, head, hegemonic, hegemonistic, imperative, important, in ascendancy, in charge, in chief, in the ascendant, influential, instructive, jussive, leading, managerial, managing, mandating, master, mighty, momentous, monocratic, obligating, official, paramount, peremptory, potent, powerful, preceptive, predominant, predominate, preeminent, prepollent, preponderant, preponderate, prepotent, prescriptive, prestigious, prevalent, prominent, puissant, ranking, regnant, regulating, regulative, regulatory, reigning, ruling, senior, sovereign, substantial, superior, supreme, totalitarian, weighty