lord it over
idiom
: to act in a way that shows one thinks one is better or more important than (someone)
She knows she's very smart and lords it over her younger brothers.
He got the only A in the class and was lording it over his classmates.
Examples of lord it over in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If their economies are intertwined, as is often the case, rivals wield trade as a weapon, seeking to monopolize the production of strategic goods and lord it over the other side.
—
Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023
The cancelation of the game meant an entire year without someone being able to lord it over their best friends.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 24 Nov. 2021
Neither the townsfolk nor the tourists lord it over the others or pity each other.
—Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 17 Nov. 2021
And Kate Hudson was her superficial, backstab-y BFF who basically dated the guy to lord it over Goodwin’s character.
—Rose Maura Lorre, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2021
The Spartans can lord it over the Wolverines in football until at least Oct. 16, 2021.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2020
Alibaba and Tencent continue to lord it over digital China.
—The Economist, 11 July 2020
At least the American bank robbery can lord it over the average commercial raid (which nets an average of $1,589) and convenience store bust (only $769 on average).
—Sophie Bushwick, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2012
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.
Michael Beckley, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023
The cancelation of the game meant an entire year without someone being able to lord it over their best friends.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 24 Nov. 2021
Neither the townsfolk nor the tourists lord it over the others or pity each other.
—Christopher Arnott, courant.com, 17 Nov. 2021
And Kate Hudson was her superficial, backstab-y BFF who basically dated the guy to lord it over Goodwin’s character.
—Rose Maura Lorre, Vulture, 18 Feb. 2021
The Spartans can lord it over the Wolverines in football until at least Oct. 16, 2021.
—Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2020
Alibaba and Tencent continue to lord it over digital China.
—The Economist, 11 July 2020
At least the American bank robbery can lord it over the average commercial raid (which nets an average of $1,589) and convenience store bust (only $769 on average).
—Sophie Bushwick, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2012
Cite this Entry
“Lord it over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lord%20it%20over. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share