command
to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal: The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.
to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.): He commands much respect for his attitude.
to dominate by reason of location; overlook: The hill commands the sea.
to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation); be in charge of.
to issue an order or orders.
to be in charge; have authority.
to occupy a dominating position; look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.
the act of commanding or ordering.
an order given by one in authority: The colonel gave the command to attack.
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!
Command, a principal component of the U.S. Air Force: Strategic Air Command.
a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.
the possession or exercise of controlling authority: a lieutenant in command of a platoon.
British. a royal order.
power of dominating a region by reason of location; extent of view or outlook: the command of the valley from the hill.
Computers.
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.
of, relating to, or for use in the exercise of command: a command car;command post.
of or relating to a commander: a command decision.
ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation: a command performance.
Origin of command
1synonym study For command
Other words for command
1 | bid, charge, direct, enjoin |
instruct, order, prescribe | 3 |
control, govern, lead, rule; manage, oversee | 4 |
call for, compel, claim, exact | 10 |
direction, bidding, injunction, charge, mandate, instruction | 13 |
authority, charge, control; ascendancy, sway, domination | 14 |
proficiency; comprehension, grasp, knowledge, understanding |
Opposites for command
Other words from command
- command·a·ble, adjective
- pre·com·mand, noun, verb
- un·com·mand·ed, adjective
- well-com·mand·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use command in a sentence
We are up against the Turkish Army which is well commanded and fighting bravely.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2 | Ian HamiltonThis is one proof, of many, that for our soldiers to equal our seamen, it is only necessary for them to be equally well commanded.
The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson | Robert SoutheyThe four subdivisions were well commanded, as were the divisions and brigades of the whole army.
The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Complete | William T. ShermanThe frigate was soon under way; she was evidently well manned, and as well commanded.
Poor Jack | Frederick MarryatBut to be successful, it was necessary that both portions of the English force should be well commanded.
With Clive in India | G. A. Henty
British Dictionary definitions for command (1 of 2)
/ (kəˈmɑːnd) /
(when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to order, require, or compel
to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
(tr) to have knowledge or use of: he commands the language
(tr) to receive as due or because of merit: his nature commands respect
to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height
an order; mandate
the act of commanding
the power or right to command
the exercise of the power to command
ability or knowledge; control: a command of French
mainly military the jurisdiction of a commander
a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
British
an invitation from the monarch
(as modifier): a command performance
computing a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action
Origin of command
1British Dictionary definitions for Command (2 of 2)
/ (kəˈmɑːnd) /
any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces: Air Command
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with command
In addition to the idiom beginning with command
- command performance
also see:
- have a good command
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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