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

Which ever of the two superstars steps up the biggest tonight can give their team a commanding lead as the series starts to come to a close. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025

Adam Henrique scored twice in what was a brutally physical first period, sparking the Oilers to a dominant 3-0 win to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round series. —Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Cardellini is the essence of warmth and smarts, and Campbell Scott offers a commanding cameo as a snooty but not heartless food critic. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025

The island offered a commanding view of the bay's entrance. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 7 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