command

American  

[kuh-mand, -mahnd] / kəˈmænd, -ˈmɑnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to direct with specific authority or prerogative; order.

   The captain commanded his men to attack.

   Synonyms:

   prescribe, order, instruct, enjoin, direct, charge, bid

   Antonyms:

   obey

2. to require authoritatively; demand.

   She commanded silence.

3. to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal.

   The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.

   Synonyms:

   oversee, manage, rule, lead, govern, control

4. to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.).

   He commands much respect for his attitude.

   Synonyms:

   exact, claim, compel

5. to dominate by reason of location; overlook.

   The hill commands the sea.

6. to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation); be in charge of.

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verb (used without object)

1. to issue an order or orders.

2. to be in charge; have authority.

3. to occupy a dominating position; look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.

noun

1. the act of commanding or ordering.

   Synonyms:

   injunction, bidding, direction, instruction, mandate, charge

2. an order given by one in authority.

   The colonel gave the command to attack.

3. Military.

   1. an order in prescribed words, usually given in a loud voice to troops at close-order drill.

      The command was “Right shoulder arms!”

   2. the order of execution or the second part of any two-part close-order drill command, as face in Right face!

   3. Command, a principal component of the U.S. Air Force.

      Strategic Air Command.

   4. a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.

4. the possession or exercise of controlling authority.

   a lieutenant in command of a platoon.

   Synonyms:

   understanding, knowledge, grasp, comprehension, proficiency, domination, sway, ascendancy, control, charge, authority

5. mastery; expertise.

   He has a command of French, Russian, and German.

6. British. a royal order.

7. power of dominating a region by reason of location; extent of view or outlook.

   the command of the valley from the hill.

8. Computers.

   1. an electric impulse, signal, or set of signals for initiating an operation in a computer.

   2. a character, symbol, or item of information for instructing a computer to perform a specific task.

   3. a single instruction.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for use in the exercise of command: command post.

   a command car;

   command post.

2. of or relating to a commander.

   a command decision.

3. ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation.

   a command performance.

command ¹ British  

/ kəˈmɑːnd /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to order, require, or compel

2. to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)

3. (tr) to have knowledge or use of

   he commands the language

4. (tr) to receive as due or because of merit

   his nature commands respect

5. to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height

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noun

1. an order; mandate

2. the act of commanding

3. the power or right to command

4. the exercise of the power to command

5. ability or knowledge; control

   a command of French

6. military the jurisdiction of a commander

7. a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF

8. 1. an invitation from the monarch

   2. ( as modifier )

      a command performance

9. computing a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action

Command ² British  

/ kəˈmɑːnd /

noun

1. any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces

   Air Command

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command Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing command

• have a good command

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Related Words

See direct. See rule.

Other Word Forms

• commandable adjective
• precommand noun
• uncommanded adjective
• well-commanded adjective

Etymology

Origin of command

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English coma(u)nden, from Anglo-French com(m)a(u)nder, Old French comander, from Medieval Latin commandāre, equivalent to Latin com- com- + mandāre “to entrust, order” ( commend ); (noun) late Middle English comma(u)nde, from Anglo-French, Old French; the noun is derivative of the verb

Explanation

A command is an order that you have to follow, as long as the person who gives it has authority over you. You don't have to comply with your friend's command that you give him all your money. Command, which can be a noun or a verb, combines the Latin prefix com-, meaning "with," and mandāre, "to charge, enjoin," so to give someone a command is to say something with the authority that charges him to follow it. Your mother might command you to clean your room. Command can also mean a position of power, like having command of a battleship, or possession of a skill, like having a great command of video games.

Example Sentences

Of course the crew has the ability to manually command the chutes ... if for some reason we have low confidence in the flight software.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

They can make major unilateral decisions — such as welcoming federal troops into California cities — and command a bully pulpit to drive public opinion and policy, including through statewide ballot measures.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

In Deuteronomy 10:19, the command is explicit: “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

In a little over a year as the department’s second in command, Blanche, 51, has helped Trump tighten his grip on the agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Warning messages come in from the command center.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

Related Words

• ability
• authority
• control
• expertise
• government
• grasp
• jurisdiction
• leadership
• management
• skill
• supervision