predominate

[ pri-dom-uh-neyt ]
See synonyms for: predominatepredominatespredominating on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. to surpass others in authority or influence; be preeminent: He predominated in the political scene.

  2. to have or exert controlling power (often followed by over): Good sense predominated over the impulse to fight.

  3. to appear more noticeable or imposing than something else: Blues and greens predominated in the painting.

verb (used with object),pre·dom·i·nat·ed, pre·dom·i·nat·ing.
  1. to dominate or prevail over.

Origin of predominate

1
1585–95; <Medieval Latin praedominātus, past participle of praedominārī to predominate. See pre-, dominate

Other words for predominate

Other words from predominate

  • pre·dom·i·nate·ly [pri-dom-uh-nit-lee], /prɪˈdɒm ə nɪt li/, adverb
  • pre·dom·i·nat·ing·ly, adverb
  • pre·dom·i·na·tion, noun
  • pre·dom·i·na·tor, noun

Words that may be confused with predominate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use predominate in a sentence

  • Bodies could also be distinguished as fiery,949 terrestrial, and so forth, according to their predominating element.

    Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 | Plotinos (Plotinus)
  • Such therefore is the predominating color of the solar atmosphere.

    Astronomy for Amateurs | Camille Flammarion
  • The doctor was a nondescript; a compound of gravity, fun, seriousness, and humbug—the latter predominating.

    Hudson Bay | R.M. Ballantyne
  • Each one has in it also mixtures of the other three elements, the one which gives it the name predominating.

British Dictionary definitions for predominate

predominate

/ (prɪˈdɒmɪˌneɪt) /


verb
  1. (intr often foll by over) to have power, influence, or control

  2. (intr) to prevail or preponderate

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

adjective(prɪˈdɒmɪnɪt)
  1. another word for predominant

Origin of predominate

1
C16: from Medieval Latin praedominārī, from Latin prae before + dominārī to bear rule, domineer

Derived forms of predominate

  • predominately, adverb
  • predomination, noun
  • predominator, noun

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