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

• chief
• first
• foremost
• head
• high
• lead
• leading
• preeminent
• premier
• presiding
• primary
• prime
• principal
• supereminent
• supreme
• top

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

The defending champions must find a way to slow down the duo of Draisaitl and Connor McDavid in Game 2, or the series could be heading to Florida with the Oilers holding a commanding 2-0 lead. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

Early polls, such as an Inside California Politics/Emerson survey show her with a commanding 31% to 8% lead over former Rep. Katie Porter, who was in second, among likely voters. —Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 5 June 2025

Game 3: Florida Panthers 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 June 13, 2024 Florida took a commanding 3-0 lead when the series moved to Edmonton for Game 3, as the Panthers fought off an inspired comeback attempt by the Oilers and hung on to a one-goal win. —Cameron Priester, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025

Its afforded them a commanding 3-1 series lead entering Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 30 May 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