commanding officer

noun

Synonyms of commanding officer next

: an officer in command

especially : an officer in the armed forces in command of an organization or installation

Example Sentences

He reported the incident to his commanding officer. reported directly to the fort's commanding officer

Recent Examples on the Web People walking by a headquarters location or a commanding officer’s house, for example, may have rubbed or touched the item for good luck. —

Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2023 Talk to your commanding officer, but toughen up. —

The Editorial Board, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2022 Dive team members consulted with Michael Lowrey, a naval historian and adjunct professor of economics based in Charlotte, N.C., who translated reports written by the German submarine’s commanding officer, Hans Rose, that included the position of the attack and a description of what had happened. —

Jenny Gross, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Aug. 2022 Stewart was the commanding officer there when Liberator bombers were flying off against the Nazis during WWII. —

Mike Knepper, Car and Driver, 31 Mar. 2023 Davis' commanding officer recommended him for the military's top honor, but the paperwork disappeared. —

Darlene Superville, ajc, 3 Mar. 2023 Davis’ commanding officer recommended him for the military’s top honor, but the paperwork disappeared. —

Darlene Superville, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Mar. 2023 Gregory Baker will be the temporary commanding officer until a permanent replacement is selected. —

Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2023 John Kurtz was the commanding officer of the amphibious transport dock Somerset in July 2020 when eight Marines and a sailor were killed when their assault amphibious vehicle, or AAV, sank near San Clemente Island. —

Andrew Dyer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commanding officer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of commanding officer was in 1720

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near commanding officer

commanding

commanding officer

commanding presence

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Commanding officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commanding%20officer. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

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