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predominate

[pri-dom-uh-neyt]
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verb (used without object), pre·dom·i·nat·ed, pre·dom·i·nat·ing.
  1. to be the stronger or leading element or force.
  2. to have numerical superiority or advantage: The radicals predominate in the new legislature.
  3. to surpass others in authority or influence; be preeminent: He predominated in the political scene.
  4. to have or exert controlling power (often followed by over): Good sense predominated over the impulse to fight.
  5. to appear more noticeable or imposing than something else: Blues and greens predominated in the painting.
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verb (used with object), pre·dom·i·nat·ed, pre·dom·i·nat·ing.
  1. to dominate or prevail over.
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Origin of predominate

1585–95; < Medieval Latin praedominātus, past participle of praedominārī to predominate. See pre-, dominate
Related formspre·dom·i·nate·ly [pri-dom-uh-nit-lee] /prɪˈdɒm ə nɪt li/, adverbpre·dom·i·nat·ing·ly, adverbpre·dom·i·na·tion, nounpre·dom·i·na·tor, noun
Can be confusedpredominant predominate

Synonyms

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

Examples from the Web for predominate

Historical Examples

  • But this statement is incorrect; sometimes it is the men, but more often the women, who predominate.

    The Sexual Question

    August Forel

  • In what passages does her desire to taunt and ridicule Sir Peter predominate?

  • On this side of the cañon the bare rock did not predominate.

  • And for the young Mildmays it was more than natural that the sadness should predominate.

    Robin Redbreast

    Mary Louisa Molesworth

  • Under these 72 circumstances, it was inevitable that the claims of the man should predominate.

    The Ordeal of Elizabeth

    Elizabeth Von Arnim

British Dictionary definitions for predominate

predominate

verb
  1. (intr often foll by over) to have power, influence, or control
  2. (intr) to prevail or preponderate
  3. (tr) rare to dominate or have control over
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adjective (prɪˈdɒmɪnɪt)
  1. another word for predominant
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Derived Formspredominately, adverbpredomination, nounpredominator, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Medieval Latin praedominārī, from Latin prae before + dominārī to bear rule, domineer
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 predominate

v.

1590s, from Medieval Latin predominatus, past participle of predominare (see predominant). Related: Predominated; predominating; predominatingly.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper