command

1 of 3

verb

com·​mand kə-ˈmand 

commanded; commanding; commands

transitive verb

1

: to direct authoritatively : order

commanded adherence to the rules

2

: to exercise a dominating influence over : have command of: such as

a

: to have at one's immediate disposal

commands many resources

b

: to demand or receive as one's due

commands a high fee

c

: to overlook or dominate from or as if from a strategic position

a hill that commands the city

d

: to have military command of as senior officer

command a regiment

3

obsolete : to order or request to be given

intransitive verb

1

: to have or exercise direct authority : govern

a leader who knows how to command well

2

: to give orders

Rob seldom commanded, but when he did Master Ted had to give in.

—Louisa May Alcott

3

: to be commander

The general will command at the western front.

4

: to dominate as if from an elevated place

commandable

kə-ˈman-də-bəl 

adjective

command

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: an order given

The command was to hold fire.

b(1)

: a signal that actuates a device (such as a control mechanism in a spacecraft or one step in a computer)

(2)

: the activation of a device by means of such a signal

(3)

: a line of code (see code entry 1 sense 5) instructing a computer to send such a signal

2

a

: the ability to control : mastery

She was in command of her emotions.

b

: the authority or right to command

the officer in command

c(1)

: the power to dominate

The fort has command of the valley.

(2)

: scope of vision

The tower provides a wide command of the neighboring hills.

d

: facility in use

a good command of French

e

: control sense 1d

a pitcher with good command of his curveball

3

: the act of commanding

The troops will charge at command.

4

: the personnel, area, or organization under a commander

specifically : a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than an air force

5

: a position of highest usually military authority

He was relieved of his command after being charged with misconduct.

command

3 of 3

adjective

: done on command or request

a command performance

Phrases

on command

: when an order is given : in response to a command

a dog trained to attack on command

Synonyms

Verb

• adjure
• bid
• boss (around)
• charge
• direct
• enjoin
• instruct
• order
• tell

Noun

• behest
• charge
• commandment
• decree
• dictate
• direction
• directive
• do
• edict
• imperative
• injunction
• instruction
• order
• word

Choose the Right Synonym for command

Verb

command, order, bid, enjoin, direct, instruct, charge mean to issue orders.

command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality.

command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about

bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls

the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

Noun

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine.

power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

Examples of command in a Sentence

Verb

She commanded us to leave.

Military leaders commanded the troops to open fire.

She commanded that work on the bridge cease immediately.

We had no choice but to do as they commanded.

He commands a platoon of 60.

With his skills and experience, he can command a high salary.

The company commands much power and influence in the business world.

Noun

We are expected to obey his commands.

She shouted out commands to the crew.

We started to teach the dog simple commands like “sit” and “lie down.”

You can perform several actions with keyboard commands.

The system recognizes voice commands.

He was relieved of his command after being charged with misconduct.

Who is the officer in command of the unit?

I assumed command of the business after my father's death.

He immediately took command of the situation.

He finally felt in command of his life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Romania’s president has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the security council that decides on military aid. —Reuters, CNN Money, 4 May 2025

The righthander was a rookie marvel, commanding the attention of two countries with a split-finger fastball. —Evan Drellich, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Noun

In the fall of 1941, Pilecki passed on to the Warsaw command word of new extermination chambers where the camp’s sick and disabled were being murdered with Zyklon B, the fast-acting pesticide that would enable the Nazis to kill millions. —Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025

The incident's central command constantly receives progress reports from firefighters on the ground. —Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2025

Adjective

An upcoming marksmanship exercise for early-August was also canceled, as were a pre-command course, firearms training for soldiers who need to improve their marksmanship, and more. —Oren Liebermann, CNN, 23 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English comanden, from Anglo-French cumander, from Vulgar Latin *commandare, alteration of Latin commendare to commit to one's charge — more at commend

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1826, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing command

• at someone's command
• chain of command
• command car
• command economy
• command module
• command performance
• command post
• command sergeant major
• high command
• in (full) command of
• on command
• on someone's command
• second-in-command
• self-command
• someone's wish is my command

Rhymes for command

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand
• farmland

Kids Definition

command

1 of 2 verb

com·​mand kə-ˈmand 

1

a

: to issue orders by right of authority

b

: to have authority and control over : be commander of

command an army

2

: to have for one's use

commands many resources

3

: to demand or receive as one's due : exact

commands a high fee

4

: to look down on especially from a militarily strong position

the hill commands the town

command

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of commanding

march on command

2

: an order given

obey a command

3

a

: the ability to control : mastery

a good command of French

b

: the authority, right, or power to command

4

: the people, area, or unit under a commander

5

: a position from which military operations are directed