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

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

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

For cruising around town while keeping tabs on the surrounding potholes, traffic and pedestrians, however, many cyclists prefer the more commanding, upright, back-friendly stance offered by a flat handlebar. —New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2025

As one of the world’s largest tech giants, Google’s position in the space is a commanding one, though competition from the likes of Meta, OpenAI and others is fierce. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025

Meghan is more commanding and confident this time around—her preppy-chic wardrobe and carefully curated soundtrack add polish, while the guest lineup gives the show depth and warmth. —Sophia A. Nelson, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

The New York Yankees once had a commanding lead in the American League East. —Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 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