commands 1 of 2

Definition of commandsnext
plural of command
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2
as in proficiencies
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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3
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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4
as in seats
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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6
as in views
all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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commands

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of command
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2
as in requests
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast

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3
4
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6
as in dominates
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
as in leads
to serve as leader of the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims

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8

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 commands
Noun
Both were arrested, but not without incident — one suspect initially refused officers’ commands and was bitten by a K9, officials said. Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026 For decades, getting the most out of the terminal required that traders memorized an arcane and bewildering set of three- and four-letter keyboard commands and shortcuts, each of which called up a different feature, function, or dataset. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026 However, Google notes that these response speed improvements are currently only supported for commands in English, French, and Spanish. Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 28 Apr. 2026 The cult status Drain Gang commands online has created an inscrutable, near-mythical air around its members. Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026 EinClaw shipped its first 100 units — of a $43 clip-on mic that lets users send voice commands to an OpenClaw AI agent — on Friday. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 27 Apr. 2026 That includes using email, spreadsheets, calendars and other applications to follow a user’s commands on a computer. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026 The New York City Police Department said several others were arrested as a result of the protest and failure to comply with verbal commands to disperse. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026 Technology is moving away from commands and toward natural interaction. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the leader is lucid and exerting total control over the country that his office commands. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 1 May 2026 Following a surge of federal law enforcement in Minneapolis, for instance, Hamilton cited an Old Testament verse that commands Israelites to treat foreigners with love and fairness. ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026 Ad-pricing improvements and sharper targeting continue to drive roughly 30% year over year top-line growth — a number that commands respect at this scale. Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026 This vibrant shade of deep pink is adventurous, daring, and commands attention. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2026 Trump had to relent on a scheme to prosecute Fed Chair Jerome Powell for disobeying White House commands to cut interest rates. David Frum, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2026 Dean's commitment to authenticity in his music is precisely why Magnolia Sage stands firmly in the territory of a future classic and commands Dean's presence as an artist's artist. Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Gadd comes off as thoughtful and emphatic, while Ruben, his physically imposing character, commands trepidation. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 That could mean guard, which is the offense’s only open starting spot but rarely commands a second-round choice. Cam Inmam, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commands
Noun
  • Road closures remain in place Road closures continue across portions of Echols and Clinch counties near the Pineland Road fire, and officials are urging drivers to follow all barricades and instructions from law enforcement.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 May 2026
  • The American Frugal Housewife (1829), A Treatise on Domestic Economy (1842), and The American Woman’s Home (1869) offered instructions on everything from bread-baking to furniture to babies, all wrapped up with a submit-to-your-husband bow.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • My history suggests very successful proficiencies in this model.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
  • Lastly, players can also pick up more powerful weapons that grow stronger as their proficiencies increase.
    Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Encryption, anonymization, and tight controls help, but do not fix the underlying integration gap.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026
  • But progress has triggered tougher regulations, with Chinese authorities introducing national rules requiring real-name registration for all drone operators and tighter controls on flight approvals.
    Todd Symons, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • During the all-day hearing Friday, the owners of both companies took the stand to give their often starkly different views of events.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • And second, our views of the future tend to be dark, and seem to be getting darker.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Federal officials have sent a letter that orders the corporate owner in the public-private partnership at Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex to bring an engineer on site, restore the powerhouse operations and provide an assessment of the conditions.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s second in command, and the highest-ranking surviving Nazi leader, steps out of the car, stands at attention to announce his surrender, and orders the soldiers to carry his bags.
    Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The vote requests that the department’s all-civilian watchdog adopt new guidelines similar to San Francisco, which bars police officers from pulling people over for broken taillights and other minor equipment violations unless there is a safety threat.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • Once a guest requests a seat, they are prompted to complete a third-party identity verification.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • That idea, practice as the great equalizer, shapes how Plum sees her career now, in a moment that demands more from her than ever before.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
  • Photo provided Grandmother demands justice Santana said her grandson woke up Thursday morning in a panic, and is still suffering from head and body pain.
    Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • In a game-changing shake-up of the eligibility rules for the non-English languagecategory, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has expanded the options for submission.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026
  • If the jury rules in his favor, a second phase of the case would determine any financial damages.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Commands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commands. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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