predominate

[ pri-dom-uh-neyt ]
See synonyms for predominate 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 byover): 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. 2024

How to use predominate in a sentence

  • In these days it almost seemed as if the girl in her predominatingly soft, serious mood were awaiting the declaration of his love.

    Atlantis | Gerhart Hauptmann
  • Then the transference produces the projection upon the doctor of infantile phantasies, often of predominatingly erotic tinge.

  • However, one thing seemed beyond dispute; it was predominatingly a masculine wickedness.

    A Poor Wise Man | Mary Roberts Rinehart

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