dominate

verb

dom·​i·​nate ˈdä-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce dominate (audio)
dominated; dominating
Synonyms of dominatenext

transitive verb

1
: rule, control
an empire that dominated the world
2
: to exert the supreme determining or guiding influence on
ambition dominated his life
3
: to overlook from a superior elevation or command because of superior height or position
a hill that dominates the town
4
a
: to be predominant in
maples dominate the forest
b
: to have a commanding or preeminent place or position in
name brands dominate the market

intransitive verb

1
: to have or exert mastery, control, or preeminence
his desire to dominate
a dominating factor in industrial growth
2
: to occupy a more elevated or superior position
dominative adjective
dominator noun

Examples of dominate in a Sentence

One company has dominated the market for years. He dominated her life for many years. His work dominated the art scene last year. Our team dominated throughout the game. Our team dominated play throughout the game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Accordingly, here’s a look at 10 high-paying careers that are dominated – or at least led – by women. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026 Names like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Alabama's Ty Simpson, Miami's Carson Beck, and a wave of Power Four passers dominated early projections, with scouts circling upside, measurables, and system translation as the deciding factors. Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 Streamers continue to dominate the digital distribution market with rising monthly subscription fees, more consumers choosing subscriptions with ads, and platforms expanding their global reach. Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 Because the Venusian atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide, identifying minor components such as phosphine, ammonia, or hydrogen sulfide is particularly challenging. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dominate

Word History

Etymology

Latin dominatus, past participle of dominari, from dominus master; akin to Latin domus house — more at dome

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dominate was in 1611

Cite this Entry

“Dominate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dominate. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

dominate

verb
dom·​i·​nate ˈdäm-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce dominate (audio)
dominated; dominating
1
: to have a commanding position or controlling power over
2
: to seem to command by rising high above
a volcano dominates the island
domination
ˌdäm-ə-ˈnā-shən
noun
dominative adjective
dominator noun
Etymology

derived from Latin dominari "to rule, govern, control," from dominus "master, owner" — related to condominium, dame, domain, dominion, don entry 2

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