dominate
Americanverb (used with object)
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dominates,
present (3rd person singular)
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dominated,
past participle, past
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dominating
present participle
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to tower above; overlook; overshadow.
A tall pine dominated the landscape.
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to predominate, permeate, or characterize.
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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.
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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)
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dominates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
dominated,
past participle, past
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dominating
present participle
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to rule; exercise control; predominate.
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to occupy a commanding or elevated position.
verb
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to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)
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to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook
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(tr; usually passive) to predominate in (something or someone)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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dominatornoun
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redominateverb
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overdominateverb (used with object)
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dominatingadjective
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dominativeadjective
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nondominatingadjective
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undominatedadjective
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well-dominatedadjective
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dominatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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dominatesimple
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dominatessimple
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have dominatedperfect
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has dominatedperfect
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am dominatingprogressive
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are dominatingprogressive
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is dominatingprogressive
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have been dominatingperfect progressive
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has been dominatingperfect progressive
Past
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dominatedsimple
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had dominatedperfect
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was dominatingprogressive
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were dominatingprogressive
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had been dominatingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing dominate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The startup rose as much of Silicon Valley was betting that OpenAI and Anthropic would dominate the market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
"This is a space I see that China is already dominating and is going to dominate."
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
On average, the universe is electrically neutral, which means electromagnetism does not dominate its large-scale behavior.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
Great Britain's Dina Asher-Smith, Amy Hunt, Success Eduan and Imani-Lara Lansiquot dominate the 4x100m relay to win a brilliant gold.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
And because of its location, the islands are immensely valuable strategically for any nation that wants to dominate the Asian coast.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The limited resource is one of the key challenges in the rivalry between the United States and China, which currently dominates the market, both in terms of production and refining.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
Her plucky Annie Clay dominates the first episode, “Graceland,” riding out a worldwide apocalypse in Elvis’ mansion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
The tariffs are the latest push by the U.S. to encourage manufacturers to bring production onshore and reduce reliance China, which dominates the drone market.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
While China dominates battery manufacturing, Cahn said he hopes Form will emerge as a “national battery champion” for the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
It fascinates us, but it rules the Gethenians, dominates them.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Subramanian argued that, while the market seems dominated by megacap growth stocks, large-cap value has ranked No. 1 or No. 2 across four size and style categories in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
The combination of extreme heat, gusty winds and low humidity brings a “significant risk” of “large plume dominated fires with rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” according to forecasters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
The international style of architecture, which dominated global trends in the 1950s and 1960s, is widely seen as a child of the Bauhaus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
At the era’s height, Chaplin dominated the medium.
From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased, from the French, the Territory of Louisiana, which contained lands dominated by the Osage.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
With the Saints dominating time of possession in the third quarter, Simpson got only three second-half series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
"This is a space I see that China is already dominating and is going to dominate."
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
With penalties too, it is clear to see why he is dominating the budget forward category.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Known as an “urchin” bait, the lure is dominating professional competitions, sparking a rush of imitators and provoking the sort of shelf-clearing buying frenzies you see for Pokemons and Beanie Babies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Out of this haze of relatives and authority figures loomed a dominating presence that would come and go.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
