command
to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal: The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.
to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.): He commands much respect for his attitude.
to dominate by reason of location; overlook: The hill commands the sea.
to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation); be in charge of.
to issue an order or orders.
to be in charge; have authority.
to occupy a dominating position; look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.
the act of commanding or ordering.
an order given by one in authority: The colonel gave the command to attack.
Military.
an order in prescribed words, usually given in a loud voice to troops at close-order drill: The command was “Right shoulder arms!”
the order of execution or the second part of any two-part close-order drill command, as face in Right face!
Command, a principal component of the U.S. Air Force: Strategic Air Command.
a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.
the possession or exercise of controlling authority: a lieutenant in command of a platoon.
British. a royal order.
power of dominating a region by reason of location; extent of view or outlook: the command of the valley from the hill.
Computers.
an electric impulse, signal, or set of signals for initiating an operation in a computer.
a character, symbol, or item of information for instructing a computer to perform a specific task.
a single instruction.
of, relating to, or for use in the exercise of command: a command car;command post.
of or relating to a commander: a command decision.
ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation: a command performance.
Origin of command
1synonym study For command
Other words for command
1 | bid, charge, direct, enjoin |
instruct, order, prescribe | 3 |
control, govern, lead, rule; manage, oversee | 4 |
call for, compel, claim, exact | 10 |
direction, bidding, injunction, charge, mandate, instruction | 13 |
authority, charge, control; ascendancy, sway, domination | 14 |
proficiency; comprehension, grasp, knowledge, understanding |
Opposites for command
Other words from command
- command·a·ble, adjective
- pre·com·mand, noun, verb
- un·com·mand·ed, adjective
- well-com·mand·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use command in a sentence
Posey’s approach to commanding his kitchen set the stage for the American celebrity chef whose artistry was considered necessary in the most powerful American homes.
George Washington’s 1795 Thanksgiving celebrated liberty. But the chef behind the feast had none. | Ramin Ganeshram | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostIf the shortcut is already linked to a command, Word will tell you with a popup dialog box that also lets you disable existing shortcuts and add new ones.
Become a Windows whiz by creating your own keyboard shortcuts | David Nield | November 12, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThey landed Ray on a low-risk contract, padding their rotation with a 29-year-old whose command slipped last summer.
The Blue Jays’ Robbie Ray signing could give the Nationals a template | Jesse Dougherty | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostThe field goal put Dallas up 10, but it was a missed chance to take command of the game.
What to know for NFL Week 9: Tua Tagovailoa arrives, and Tom Brady’s Buccaneers take a beating | Adam Kilgore | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostMuch like Amazon, Google, or Apple devices, it will respond to commands through an embedded voice assistant.
When Schettino commanded him to turn the ship, he can be heard repeating errant commands.
The Costa Concordia’s Randy Reckless Captain Takes the Stand | Barbie Latza Nadeau | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 1964, Kabila had been a Simba leader, and Mobutu had commanded the Congolese army.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis | Nina Strochlic | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe problem was that Ernst was in Kuwait with the 1168 Transportation Company, a National Guard supply unit that she commanded.
In 2005, ‘Iowa Nice’ Ernst Helped to Oust Veterans From Local Board After They Opposed Her Candidacy | Ben Jacobs | October 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTGen. David Barno, who commanded U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2005.
He said he had been commanded to grab every journalist showing up at the morgue.
The general commanded a halt, and ordered the men to refresh and strengthen themselves by food and drink.
During the siege of Acre he commanded the covering force, and pushed reconnaissances far and wide.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonHe commanded a regiment in the war of 1812, and was maimed for life in the battle of Chrystler's fields.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellWhen he had finished speaking, he commanded him to withdraw for an hour; after which time, he would tell him his resolution.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterI have commanded my sanctified ones, and have called my strong ones in my wrath, them that rejoice in my glory.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
British Dictionary definitions for command (1 of 2)
/ (kəˈmɑːnd) /
(when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to order, require, or compel
to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
(tr) to have knowledge or use of: he commands the language
(tr) to receive as due or because of merit: his nature commands respect
to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height
an order; mandate
the act of commanding
the power or right to command
the exercise of the power to command
ability or knowledge; control: a command of French
mainly military the jurisdiction of a commander
a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
British
an invitation from the monarch
(as modifier): a command performance
computing a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action
Origin of command
1British Dictionary definitions for Command (2 of 2)
/ (kəˈmɑːnd) /
any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces: Air Command
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with command
In addition to the idiom beginning with command
- command performance
also see:
- have a good command
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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