dominate

[dom-uh-neyt]

See more synonyms for dominate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

to rule over; govern; control.
to tower above; overlook; overshadow: A tall pine dominated the landscape.
to predominate, permeate, or characterize.

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.
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.

verb (used without object), dom·i·nat·ed, dom·i·nat·ing.

to rule; exercise control; predominate.
to occupy a commanding or elevated position.

Origin of dominate

1605–15; < Latin dominātus (past participle of dominārī to master, control), equivalent to domin- (stem of dominus) master + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsdom·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbdom·i·na·tor, nounnon·dom·i·nat·ing, adjectiveo·ver·dom·i·nate, verb (used with object), o·ver·dom·i·nat·ed, o·ver·dom·i·nat·ing.re·dom·i·nate, verb, re·dom·i·nat·ed, re·dom·i·nat·ing.un·dom·i·nat·ed, adjectivewell-dom·i·nat·ed, adjective

Can be confuseddominant dominate domineer (see synonym study at dominant)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for dominated

control, run, lead, overshadow, manage, influence, command, dictate, monopolize, prevail, head, handle, preponderate, outshine, overrule, eclipse, direct, reign, boss, tyrannize

Examples from the Web for dominated

Contemporary Examples of dominated

Submission is set in a France seven years from now that is dominated by a Muslim president intent on imposing Islamic law.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President
Pierre Assouline
January 9, 2015
They excite people, and primaries tend to be dominated by voters who are the most excited.
The Devil in Mike Huckabee
Dean Obeidallah
January 6, 2015
A few minor notes, born of reflection: Traditionally, the best columns are dominated by politics—its most popular topic.
The Best Columns of 2014
John Avlon, Errol Louis
December 31, 2014
Nestled in the hills are small market towns like Buleda, dominated by Baluch who make a living smuggling diesel and drugs.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan
Umar Farooq
December 29, 2014
And by 1918 there had been a tumultuous upheaval of the four dynasties that dominated East and Central Europe.
How WWI Produced the Holocaust
J.P. O’Malley
November 21, 2014

Historical Examples of dominated

Her tone was dominated by the desire to be calm, and get at his real feeling.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
He looked like a man who all his life had dominated not only other men, but himself.
Quaint Courtships
Various
All other sounds were dominated by the monotonous shouts of the gondoliers.
Casanova's Homecoming
Arthur Schnitzler
More to the left arose the Serre de Julos, dominated by the Miramont.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
Only expectation, and eagerness to get at the Tories dominated them.
The Dare Boys of 1776
Stephen Angus Cox

British Dictionary definitions for dominated

dominate

verb

to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)
to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook
(tr; usually passive) to predominate in (something or someone)

Derived Formsdominating, adjectivedominatingly, adverbdominative, adjectivedominator, noun

Word Origin for dominate

C17: from Latin dominārī to be lord over, from dominus lord

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

Word Origin and History for dominated

dominate

1610s, from Latin dominatus, past participle of dominari "to rule, dominate, to govern," from dominus (see domain). Related: Dominated; dominating. Or perhaps a back-formation from domination.