Dictionary.com

commanding

[ kuh-man-ding, -mahn- ]
/ kəˈmæn dɪŋ, -ˈmɑn- /
Save This Word!

adjective
being in command: a commanding officer.
appreciably superior or imposing; winning; sizable: a commanding position; a commanding lead in the final period.
having the air, tone, etc., of command; imposing; authoritative: a man of commanding appearance; a commanding voice.
dominating by position, usually elevation; overlooking: a commanding bluff at the mouth of the river.
(of a view, or prospect) provided by a commanding location and so permitting dominance: a commanding view of the mouth of the river.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of commanding

First recorded in 1475–85; command + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM commanding

com·mand·ing·ly, adverbcom·mand·ing·ness, nounqua·si-com·mand·ing, adjectivequa·si-com·mand·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use commanding in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for commanding

commanding
/ (kəˈmɑːndɪŋ) /

adjective (usually prenominal)
being in command
having the air of authoritya commanding voice
(of a position, situation, etc) exerting control
(of a height, viewpoint, etc) overlooking; advantageous

Derived forms of commanding

commandingly, adverb
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
FEEDBACK