captain 1 of 2

Definition of captainnext
1
as in commander
a person in overall command of a ship the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage

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2
as in commandant
one in official command especially of a military force or base the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country

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3
4

captain

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of captain
Noun
Co-captains Evan Hefez (SS), ace Jack Peabody and third-year starter James Warren (C) lead with fellow senior standout Owen Haaland. Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026 Last season, Jamien Sherwood became the Jets’ captain of their defense after signing a three-year, $45 million contract. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Luke Donald has already agreed to captain a third straight time for Europe, which has won the last two Ryder Cups. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026 Ronaldo, 41, is expected to captain Portugal in the World Cup. Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for captain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captain
Noun
  • The Orientale basin will be an ongoing subject of study for members of the Orion spacecraft's four-person crew, which includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Her model for all this, incredibly, is the Biblical heroine Jael, famous for luring the Canaanite commander Sisera to her tent, plying him with milk curds, and driving a tent peg through his temple.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • With a German commandant enraged, Edmonds stood his ground and invoked prisoners' rights under international law.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The controversial wording was later removed after two Democratic lawmakers put a hold on Lunday’s nomination for commandant until the manual was changed.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The city’s been the leader in that area for almost a year.
    Desiree Mathurin April 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Hickman Mills School District is currently about $14 million in debt, a figure which district leaders attribute partly to financial mismanagement and partly to recent changes to the Jackson County property tax assessment cycle.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Launched in 2017 by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna, created by his brother Samih Sawiris, the festival showcases Arab-language cinema and international festival titles alongside red carpet glamor, with guests in 2025 including Cate Blanchett.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The pair took things public at the Epsom Derby in 2023, and during their relationship, Phillips took the highly significant step of introducing Wallace, the daughter of an oil tycoon, to his grandmother the late Queen at a shooting party at Windsor.
    Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Mortensen’s lawyer Daniela Diaz said that her client is requesting that child visitation be supervised by a facility that can act as a go-between.
    Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026
  • That includes ethical duties to verify information and supervise tools-AI included.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The fight to fly ultralights from the Yuba County Airport has continued months after the county ended its yearslong ban of the small aircraft, with the Federal Aviation Administration now poised to rule on the claims of discrimination and lack of compliance alleged by ultralight pilots.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The medical examiner ruled Mitchell's death a homicide from blunt force trauma, according to prosecutors.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With a $21 million option for 2027, a full-strength Alcantara would command a major return in a trade this summer.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Arsenal not only commands the top of the Premier League, but also remains undefeated in this year’s Champions League.
    Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In reply, four of Chennai’s top five batters were out for single digits, including Sanju Samson (9) and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (7).
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Other projects have or would have endangered the bleached sandhill skipper butterfly, the sage-grouse, and steamboat buckwheat.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Captain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captain. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.

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