commanding

UK: /kəˈmɑːndɪŋ/ US: (kə man′ding, -män′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mand•ing  (kə man′ding, -män′-), adj. 

1. being in command:
   a commanding officer.
2. appreciably superior or imposing;
   winning;
   sizable:
   a commanding position; a commanding lead in the final period.
3. having the air, tone, etc., of command;
   imposing;
   authoritative:
   a man of commanding appearance; a commanding voice.
4. dominating by position, usually elevation;
   overlooking:
   a commanding bluff at the mouth of the river.
5. (of a view, or prospect) provided by a commanding location and so permitting dominance:
   a commanding view of the mouth of the river.

• command + -ing² 1475–85

com•mand′ing•ly, adv. 
com•mand′ing•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

commanding / kəˈmɑːndɪŋ/ adjective (usually prenominal)

1. being in command
2. having the air of authority: a commanding voice
3. (of a position, situation, etc) exerting control
4. (of a height, viewpoint, etc) overlooking; advantageous

comˈmandingly adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mand /kəˈmænd/   v. 

1. to direct with authority;
   order: [no object]
   We did as he commanded.
   [~ + object + to + verb]
   The general commanded his troops to march the rest of the way.
   [~ + that clause]
   He commanded that they follow him.
   [used with quotations]
   "Stand at attention, soldier!'' he commanded.
2. [~ + object] to demand:
   to command silence.
3. to deserve and receive (respect, attention, etc.):
   [~ + object] Her words command respect.
4. [~ + object] to dominate by reason of location (such as by being higher);
   overlook:
   The hill commands the sea.
5. Military to have authority or control over:
   [~ + object] He commanded an army base of a thousand soldiers.

n. 

6. the act of commanding or ordering with authority;
   control:
   [uncountable] Admiral, you have lost command of your ship.
   [be + in + ~]
   The lieutenant was in command of a platoon.
7. an order given by one in authority:
   [countable] He issued several commands.
8. [countable] an order in prescribed words, such as one given at close-order drill: The command was "Right shoulder arms!''
9. expertise;
   mastery;
   strong ability: [countable; usually singular]
   has a working command of four languages.
   [uncountable] His spoken command of Russian was perfect.
10. Computing a signal, as a keystroke, instructing a computer to perform a specific task:
    [countable] He issued several commands to clear the screen.

adj. [before a noun]

11. ordered or requested:
    She gave a command performance before the queen.

See -mand-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•mand  (kə mand′, -mänd′), v.t. 

1. to direct with specific authority or prerogative;
   order:
   The captain commanded his men to attack.
2. to require authoritatively;
   demand:
   She commanded silence.
3. to have or exercise authority or control over;
   be master of;
   have at one's bidding or disposal:
   The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.
4. to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.):
   He commands much respect for his attitude.
5. to dominate by reason of location;
   overlook:
   The hill commands the sea.
6. to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation);
   be in charge of.

v.i. 

7. to issue an order or orders.
8. to be in charge;
   have authority.
9. to occupy a dominating position;
   look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.

n. 

10. the act of commanding or ordering.
11. an order given by one in authority:
    The colonel gave the command to attack.
12. Military
    • an order in prescribed words, usually given in a loud voice to troops at close-order drill:
      The command was "Right shoulder arms!''
    • the order of execution or the second part of any two-part close-order drill command, as face in Right face!
    • (cap.) a principal component of the U.S. Air Force:
      Strategic Air Command.
    • a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.
13. the possession or exercise of controlling authority:
    a lieutenant in command of a platoon.
14. expertise;
    mastery:
    He has a command of French, Russian, and German.
15. British Terms a royal order.
16. power of dominating a region by reason of location;
    extent of view or outlook:
    the command of the valley from the hill.
17. Computing
    • an electric impulse, signal, or set of signals for initiating an operation in a computer.
    • a character, symbol, or item of information for instructing a computer to perform a specific task.
    • a single instruction.

adj. 

18. of, pertaining to, or for use in the exercise of command:
    a command car; command post.
19. of or pertaining to a commander:
    a command decision.
20. ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation:
    a command performance.

• Anglo-French, Old French, noun, nominal derivative of the verb, verbal
• Medieval Latin commandāre, equivalent. to Latin com- com- + mandāre to entrust, order (compare commend); (noun, nominal) late Middle English comma(u)nde
• Anglo-French com(m)a(u)nder, Old French comander
• (verb, verbal) Middle English coma(u)nden 1250–1300

command′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. bid, demand, charge, instruct, enjoin. See direct. 
• 3. govern, control, oversee, manage, lead. See rule. 
• 4. exact, compel, require, claim, secure.
• 10. direction, bidding, injunction, charge, mandate, instruction.
• 13. ascendancy, sway, domination.

Antonyms

• 1, 7. obey.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

command / kəˈmɑːnd/ verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to order, require, or compel
2. to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
3. (transitive) to receive as due or because of merit: a leader who commands respect
4. to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height

noun

1. an order; mandate
2. the act of commanding
3. the power or right to command
4. the exercise of the power to command
5. ability or knowledge; control: a command of French
6. the jurisdiction of a commander
7. a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
8. an invitation from the monarch
9. (as modifier): a command performance
10. a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French commander, from Latin com- (intensive) + mandāre to entrust, enjoin, command