dominate

American  

[dom-uh-neyt] / ˈdɒm əˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

dominated, dominating

1. to rule over; govern; control.

2. to tower above; overlook; overshadow.

   A tall pine dominated the landscape.

3. to predominate, permeate, or characterize.

4. Mathematics. (of a series, vector, etc.) to have terms or components greater in absolute value than the corresponding terms or components of a given series, vector, etc.

5. Linguistics. (of a node in a tree diagram) to be connected with (a subordinate node) either directly by a single downward branch or indirectly by a sequence of downward branches.

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verb (used without object)

dominated, dominating

1. to rule; exercise control; predominate.

2. to occupy a commanding or elevated position.

dominate British  

/ ˈdɒmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)

2. to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook

3. (tr; usually passive) to predominate in (something or someone)

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Other Word Forms

• dominating adjective
• dominatingly adverb
• dominative adjective
• dominator noun
• nondominating adjective
• overdominate verb (used with object)
• redominate verb
• undominated adjective
• well-dominated adjective

Etymology

Origin of dominate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin dominātus, past participle of dominārī “to master, control,” from domin(us) “lord, master” + -ārī, infinitive verb suffix

Explanation

If your basketball team is undefeated, you could say that it was able to dominate the competition. To dominate means to be in control or have the power to defeat. Dominate is related to the word domain — which means home. While these words may not seem all that similar, when you are the master of a home or thing, you dominate it. If you get angry, it is wise to not let your feelings dominate you or your actions. Dominate can also mean to be most prominent. If in the woods around your house, oak trees are the most common, you could say that "oak trees dominate the forest."

Example Sentences

The established giants like Meta, Google and Microsoft still dominate spending, but AI start-ups like OpenAI and Anthropic have rapidly built out their Washington presence, hiring elite firms and expanding in-house policy shops.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

When a handful of companies dominate broad market indexes and returns diverge sharply across sectors, a purely passive approach can leave investors too exposed to a single sector.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

In Jupiter's atmosphere, ammonia gas and ammonia clouds dominate the visible upper layers.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

It breaks the spell of being fruitfully lost in the present, and retethers us to the digital distractions that dominate our days.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

The store was on its feet within one year, expanding in two, opening branches in three, and its descendants, a great mercantile system, now dominate a large part of the area.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• command
• control
• dictate
• influence
• lead
• manage
• monopolize
• overshadow
• prevail
• run