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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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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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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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
The usual assumption has been that if a user overtly instructs AI to act as a delusion-invoking collaborator, the AI simply obeys those commands. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 For example, malware could send commands to rapidly open and close circuit breakers, a technique known as flapping. Saman Zonouz, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026 The trucks were mounted with heavy machine guns and were moving in convoys with weapons firing into the darkness as armed men shouted commands. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026 For example, malware could send commands to rapidly open and close circuit breakers, a technique known as flapping. Saman Zonouz, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026 Rahman's lawyer told us she was overwhelmed by conflicting commands from ICE. Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 19 Jan. 2026 Top Department of Homeland Security officials said the officer had acted in self-defense as the woman drove her car toward him while refusing commands to exit her vehicle. Sarah Bedford, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026 Voice commands can start cycles, check battery status, enable a child lock, and deliver alerts when cleaning is finished. Ie Creative Studio, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
For example, just six countries account for roughly two-thirds of mining production, and China alone commands about 40% of global smelting capacity. Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026 Privately, however, sources described a violent struggle over control of the military— who commands it, who coordinates it — and who may soon deploy it against internal rivals. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026 Morgan Stanley currently doesn't crack the top-10 list of ETF issuers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, and commands fewer assets in the space than newcomers such as Neos Investments, which got its start in 2022. Vildana Hajric Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026 Green still approaches stopping the other team with the kind of reckless abandon of a man 10 years younger, and is still a smart defender who commands the respect of his peers and coach. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026 When a clash between a student and another teacher divides the university, the employer commands Agathe to befriend the offending student and the two develop an instant but irritating intellectual intimacy. Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025 During this play, Boldy commands the opposition’s attention from the half-wall with his spin move and drive to the interior. Harman Dayal, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025 Such tensions help explain why China often commands respect but not affection. Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 Soaring ceilings, double-height timber walls, and winding staircases create architectural drama, while a striking three-story library commands the home’s center. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commands
Noun
  • Follow instructions from local health officials and check back for updates.
    Jose Fabian, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • When purchasing a heated bird bath, always read the manufacturer instructions to ensure they are rated for your local temperatures.
    Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Lucrative, fully remote data science jobs with robust salaries usually require technical proficiencies that are gauged in an interview.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Industry experience and demonstrated proficiencies are among the top factors considered by employers surveyed in NACE’s Job Outlook 2026.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Unusually at this relatively affordable price point, the NODE 100 has a fully customizable touch bar and keys that can be programmed with macros, media controls or application shortcuts for software like Adobe Photoshop or web browser.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
  • White then took the controls of Boston’s offense, even in another subpar shooting night.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
    Avi Patel, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
  • His recent New Year’s Eve livestreamed special generated more than 30 million views across platforms.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • July 2017 The Fire and Police Commission orders Flynn to expand the department’s pursuit policy.
    Francesca Pica, jsonline.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Starting Monday, specialists will deliver reports evaluating the nearly 50-year-old building’s condition and repair costs that could determine whether the City Council orders Dallas’ government hub to stay put or move elsewhere.
    Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Mu Hee’s visits her Uncle and Aunt, and requests them to ask her father the whereabouts of her mother.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Boston’s tendency to ignore federal civil detainer requests due to the Trust Act led to a squabble between ICE and Boston Police last year that centered around a discrepancy in how many detainer requests the respective sides reported for 2024.
    Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Apart from the logistical challenges, the setting demands a certain stately nostalgia.
    Shamilee Vellu, Travel + Leisure, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Most investors in African startups focus on making equity investments, banking on a model that demands years-long patience with expectations for multifold returns should their portfolio companies become successful.
    Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Autopsy rules Good's death a homicide More than two weeks after she was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota, the Hennepin County medical examiner's office ruled the death of Renee Good a homicide.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Because the Rams play in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, NFL rules state that Scheelhaase can’t do in-person interviews until next week.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Commands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commands. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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