captains 1 of 2

plural of captain
1
as in commanders
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 commandants
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

captains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of captain

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 captains
Noun
We are getting set to go here at Lake Nona as both sets of captains come out for the coin toss. Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026 Moore, one of the Texas captains a season ago, left for Colorado. Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 All three daughters have competed on the dance team at no cost, with the two oldest becoming team captains and student leaders. Francesca Pinney, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 The Coast Guard report calls for more disaster simulator use for pilots and captains, increasing the capability and availability of tugboats for higher-risk vessels, and improving pier support at older bridges. Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Achane agreed, explaining that much will be required not just of the captains but of the entire team. Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026 During the surge, the most important of these turned out to be those founded during the upheaval that followed George Floyd’s murder, when residents gathered in nearby parks to organize block associations led by captains. Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Cooper was allowed to participate in training camp and on Friday was one of the Broncos' captains in their preseason finale, a 34-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings. ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 Wideout/linebacker Sawyer Haley, wideout/defensive back Levi Carlucci and lineman Jaysson Pittman are the team’s senior captains. Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Star center back and veteran captain Virgil van Dijk also captains Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world in England. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026 Hakimi, who captains Morocco and stars for Paris Saint-Germain, is regarded as one of the best right backs in the world. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026 Camberos, who captains the Mexican side and plays for the national team, played for Angel City and Bay FC in between a first stint with América and her current tenure, while Geyse last played for Gotham. Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 22 May 2026 Rozanov captains the re-named Boston Raiders in the TV adaptation. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026 Rush lost two of his top players to The Bennett School when Reeder and fellow senior Harper Gates, both now captains for the Rebels’ premiere team, decided to pursue the new opportunity. Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026 Tigertail, 36, who captains airboat tours through the Everglades, is navigating his boat through the only route available given how dry the park has gotten this year. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026 Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo. Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026 As Olivia Walker in the Netflix thriller, the actress captains the White House's Situation Room with the world on the brink of nuclear war. Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captains
Noun
  • Five categories of spies are described, and espionage is treated as essential to providing rulers and commanders with the foreknowledge needed to make informed strategic decisions.
    Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Two deputy chiefs also retired earlier this year — one of them not voluntarily — leaving the department without its highest-ranking commanders.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Business leaders can’t predict their way through today’s turbulent environment—and should stop trying.
    Danny Vincent, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Evans walked into the 49ers locker room, with a lot of veteran leaders, and has fit in well.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • For this is the fate of technology tycoons down through history.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Two notable examples are the East India Company and the US transcontinental railroad, and the various tycoons who built it.
    Space.com Staff, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In her current role, Second Assistant District Attorney, Sprague supervises all homicides that occur in Plymouth County as well as all firearm and narcotics cases, according to her profile.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The quotation should identify who designs the hairline, administers local anesthesia, performs recipient incisions and supervises graft placement.
    Malana VanTyler, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The report released by the NBA’s investigators at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz portrays Ballmer and the team as treating the league’s salary cap rules not as strict mandates, but as obstacles to be evaded, like traffic cones.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Georgia Supreme Court rules against the Department of Public Safety.
    Adam Beam, AJC.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • There, wisteria blooms on trellises, raspberries ripen on bushes, a cold-plunge pool commands sweeping views of downtown Manhattan—and a chicken coop looms in the corner.
    Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The left brain, by contrast, commands language processing, and following a stroke to the left brain, a person can develop not only a communication disorder but often post-stroke depression as well.
    Michael P.H. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The American League and National League teams will be managed by John Schneider and Dave Roberts, respectively, the skippers of last year’s World Series clubs.
    Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Ludwig says many breakfast skippers end up overeating at night.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • The budget at Liverpool has historically been less-easily loosened than at some of their rival clubs, though Hughes succeeded in persuading his bosses to break their transfer record to go big for Wirtz, Isak and Barcola.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Vanhée ended the night dancing alongside her bosses to a Fatboy Slim set in the pub.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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