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

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 • Jan. 9, 2026

Now as then, Hungarians, Poles and Czechs predominate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

The network effect has made RealPage the dominant player in the market at large, and especially so in cities and neighborhoods where big landlords predominate.

From Slate • Sep. 10, 2024

In the deeper layers, slower oscillations called alpha and beta waves predominate.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

Gradually, however, like Jekyll and Hyde, one personality began to predominate.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• hold sway