commanding

adjective

com·​mand·​ing kə-ˈman-diŋ 

1

: drawing attention or priority

a commanding presence

2

: difficult to overcome

a commanding lead

commandingly

kə-ˈman-diŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of commanding

• presiding
• chief
• leading
• supreme
• lead
• top
• foremost
• primary
• high
• senior
• first

Examples of commanding in a Sentence

He has a very commanding voice.

She holds a commanding lead in the polls.

Our team was in a commanding position as the game neared its end.

The castle is in a commanding position at the top of the hill.

The hill provides a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.

Recent Examples on the Web

At this point, Lawrence needs a commanding postseason display to turn that around. —Larry Holder, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

The Colorado Avalanche solidified their lead atop the Central Division on Sunday, emphatically, building a commanding lead and giving Minnesota Wild fans precious little to cheer about. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 22 Dec. 2025

Previous polling had suggested Van Epps had a more commanding lead. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Pinot Gris Pinot Grigio’s spicier, more commanding sibling. —Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing commanding

• commanding officer
• commanding presence

Rhymes for commanding

• demanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding
• outstanding
• remanding
• upstanding
• withstanding
• banding
• branding
• handing