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:
Despite the competition, Netflix’s original programs still dominate the most-watched streaming lists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
China has repeatedly shown that it can dominate industries where scale, speed and cost matter most.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
A small number of high-volume sellers dominate ticket resale.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The World Meteorological Organisation, the UN agency for climate and weather, says a strong El Niño event is developing and is expected to "dominate global climate patterns" in the coming months.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Today, in the symbiotic associations that dominate so much of the life of the sea, there is rarely a question of who is who, even when the combination functions like a single animal.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
The U.S. still dominates these trends, but it’s clear that breadth is increasing with the share of non-U.S. tech M&A jumping from 42% in 2016 to 76% last year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
When one of your favorite actors suddenly dominates your social media feed, it is easy to fear the worst.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 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
A cartoonish monument depicting a certain oafish world leader dominates the intersection outside.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
As they flash his photo onto the screen, they discuss all the records he holds and how he dominates his position.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
Marketing the “C-Beauty” concept in an era dominated by Korean and Japanese products won’t be an easy sell, however.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Russian Makhachev dominated large portions of the fight in Pennsylvania to win by unanimous decision for a historic 17th successive UFC win, breaking Anderson Silva's 13-year record.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
An alternative Arctic route, the Northwest Passage that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via the Canadian Arctic, is less passable because it is dominated by narrow waterways where ice gets bunched up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
The region is dominated by flammable pine forests.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
The search for the fugitive leaker now dominated the news—reporters even showed up at Ellsberg’s father’s house in Detroit.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" continued dominating the North American box office, drawing an additional $70 million in ticket sales on its third weekend on the big screen, according to industry estimates.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 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
And dominating the paint for stretches of the game, Hamby had four turnovers, including two in the fourth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Instead, the 34-year-old has remained in Europe by joining Trabzonspor, a club better known for upsetting Turkey's established order than dominating it.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
But the only significant gain of ground had been the capture by the Canadians of the dominating Vimy Ridge near Arras.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
