predominate

American  

[pri-dom-uh-neyt] / prɪˈdɒm əˌneɪt /

verb (used without object)

predominated, predominating

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 byover ).

   Good sense predominated over the impulse to fight.

   Synonyms:

   dominate, overrule

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)

predominated, predominating

1. to dominate or prevail over.

predominate British  

/ prɪˈdɒmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to have power, influence, or control

2. (intr) to prevail or preponderate

3. rare (tr) to dominate or have control over

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adjective

1. another word for predominant

Other Word Forms

• predominately adverb
• predominatingly adverb
• predomination noun
• predominator noun

Etymology

Origin of predominate

1585–95; < Medieval Latin praedominātus, past participle of praedominārī to predominate. See pre-, dominate

Example Sentences

He did not concede a boundary in the final over, mixing his pace and bowling predominately full.

From BBC

Like the earlier cut, “Chicago Boy,” a jazzy atmosphere predominates.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Because the voters enacted the Proposition 50 Map, we hold that the relevant inquiry is whether race predominated in the minds of the voters,” the decision said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We often see a transition from influenza A, which predominates early on, to influenza B, which is more common in late February into March,” says Kuritzkes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nigeria's population of more than 230 million people is roughly evenly divided among Christians, who predominate in the south, and Muslims, who are mostly in the north.

From BBC

Related Words

• hold sway