command

verb com·mand \ kə-ˈmand \

Updated on: 8 Dec 2017

Definition of command

transitive verb

1 : to direct authoritatively : order

commanded adherence to the rules

2 : to exercise a dominating influence over : have command of: such as

a : to have at one's immediate disposal

commands many resources

b : to demand or receive as one's due

commands a high fee

c : to overlook or dominate from or as if from a strategic position

a hill that commands the city

d : to have military command of as senior officer

command a regiment

3 obsolete : to order or request to be given

intransitive verb

1 : to have or exercise direct authority : govern

The king knows how to command well.

2 : to give orders

The master commands, and the servants obey.

3 : to be commander

The general will command at the western front.

4 : to dominate as if from an elevated place

—

commandable

play \kə-ˈman-də-bəl\ adjective

See command defined for English-language learners

See command defined for kids

Examples of command in a Sentence

She commanded us to leave.
Military leaders commanded the troops to open fire.
She commanded that work on the bridge cease immediately.
We had no choice but to do as they commanded.
He commands a platoon of 60.
With his skills and experience, he can command a high salary.
The company commands much power and influence in the business world.

Recent Examples of command from the Web

Reigning MVP Russell Westbrook performed his usual sorcery, commanding the Thunder offense with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in just 26 1/2 minutes of action.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Thunder 110, Bucks 91: Offense sputters in ugly loss," 31 Oct. 2017
Bond markets have been willing to lend to average-Joe borrowers for just a few basis points more than what companies with top-notch grades can command.

— molly smith, Bloomberg.com, "GE's Run as Bond-Market Royalty Could Be Over," 27 Oct. 2017
The Weinsteinians are more like an imperial ruling class commanding unsuspecting young maidens to service them in their bedchambers.

— kyle smith, National Review, "This Hollywood Scandal Is Different," 24 Oct. 2017
Despite a late start, a long game and a hard-to-watch loss, the Cubs commanded a sizable Chicago-area TV audience through Game 3 of their National League Championship Series with the Dodgers.

— phil rosenthal, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago-area viewers still watching the Cubs," 18 Oct. 2017
Richards refused the officers’ commands to drop the weapons, and three officers fired, two with pistols and one with a stun gun.

— jen kirby, Daily Intelligencer, "NYPD Releases First Body-Cam Footage From Deadly Encounter," 14 Sep. 2017
Third-generation family owners of the site soon were fielding inquiries from restaurateurs for a spot that could command significantly higher rent, said Dino Cresci, who oversees the property owned by three members of his family.

— lori weisberg, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Little Italy welcomes new upscale steakhouse," 12 Sep. 2017
But with Billy Hamilton out with a fractured thumb and Scooter Gennett commanding a starter’s workload at second, center is where the playing time opportunity is.

— zach buchanan, The Courier-Journal, "Reds notes: Tim Adleman has Citi Field history," 10 Sep. 2017
Then Henry linked up with a Houston lawyer, Thomas Holmes III, who was commanding his own fleet of boats.

— author: kevin sullivan, peter holley, Alaska Dispatch News, "Texans’ do-it-ourselves rescue effort defines Hurricane Harvey," 3 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'command.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of command

Middle English comanden, from Anglo-French cumander, from Vulgar Latin *commandare, alteration of Latin commendare to commit to one's charge — more at commend

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

command Synonyms

Synonyms

adjure, bid, boss (around), charge, direct, enjoin, instruct, order, tell

Antonyms

mind, obey

Related Words

ask, petition, request; beg, beseech, entreat; advise, counsel, warn; appoint, assign, authorize, commission; oversee, superintend, supervise; conduct, control, lead, manage; coerce, compel, constrain, force, oblige, require

Near Antonyms

comply (with), follow, keep, observe

Synonym Discussion of command

command, order, bid, enjoin, direct, instruct, charge mean to issue orders. command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality. command stresses official exercise of authority.

- a general commanding troops

order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

- ordered his employees about like slaves

bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

- she bade him be seated

enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

- a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

- directed her assistant to hold all calls
- the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

- charged by the President with a secret mission

command

noun

Definition of command

1 a : an order given

The command was to hold fire.

a dog trained to attack on command [=in response to a command]

b (1) : a signal that actuates a device (such as a control mechanism in a spacecraft or one step in a computer)

(2) : the activation of a device by means of such a signal

(3) : a line of code (see ¹code 5) instructing a computer to send such a signal

2 a : the ability to control : mastery

She was in command of her emotions.

b : the authority or right to command

the officer in command

c (1) : the power to dominate

The fort has command of the valley.

(2) : scope of vision

The tower provides a wide command of the neighboring hills.

d : facility in use

a good command of French

e : control 1d

a pitcher with good command of his curveball

3 : the act of commanding

The troops will charge at command.

4 : the personnel, area, or organization under a commander; specifically : a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than an air force

5 : a position of highest usually military authority

He was relieved of his command after being charged with misconduct.

See command defined for English-language learners

Examples of command in a Sentence

We are expected to obey his commands.
She shouted out commands to the crew.
We started to teach the dog simple commands like “sit” and “lie down.”
You can perform several actions with keyboard commands.
The system recognizes voice commands.
He was relieved of his command after being charged with misconduct.
Who is the officer in command of the unit?
I assumed command of the business after my father's death.
He immediately took command of the situation.
He finally felt in command of his life.

Recent Examples of command from the Web

The danger of an unreliable or insufficient command and control system in North Korea is chilling to contemplate.

— michael auslin, The Atlantic, "Trump Should Help North Korea Keep Its Nukes Safe," 5 Nov. 2017
Dillon Maples made the leap from Class A to the majors in 2017 and could be used in low-leverage situations, in the same manner as Edwards broke in, if Maples can polish command of his 100 mph fastball and 90 mph slider.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "5 key questions facing the Cubs this offseason," 20 Oct. 2017
Officers issued him verbal commands telling him to get down, but Combs kept climbing.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky man seeking YouTube fame accused of jumping White House fence dressed as Pokémon's Pikachu," 19 Oct. 2017
He was given several verbal commands to show his hands but failed to comply, Edwards said.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Shotgun-wielding man killed by Birmingham police identified," 20 Oct. 2017
The undrafted third-year point guard has great command of the offense and provides his trademark grit.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Five observations from Sixers' win over the Brooklyn Nets," 12 Oct. 2017
Mr Heffer combines a scholar’s command of the primary literature with a journalist’s eye for detail.

— The Economist, "The decadent late-Victorian and Edwardian era," 7 Oct. 2017
Many other law enforcement agencies end biting incidents with verbal commands instead.

— david garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego's sharp spike in police dog usage raising questions about policies," 1 Oct. 2017
After successful quelling a royalist riot in Paris in 1795, Napoleon was given command of the French army.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Why Is France in Its Fifth Republic?," 20 Apr. 2017

First Known Use of command

15th century

command Synonyms

Synonyms

behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, do, edict, imperative, injunction, instruction, order, word

Antonyms

impotence, impotency, powerlessness

Related Words

demand, requirement; mandate; countermand, counterorder; law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule; ordinance, regulation, statute

Near Antonyms

appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging; proposal, recommendation, suggestion

Synonym Discussion of command

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine. power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

- the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

- granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

- the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

- you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

- the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

- the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

- given dominion over all the animals

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

command

adjective

Definition of command

: done on command or request

a command performance

First Known Use of command

1826

COMMAND Defined for English Language Learners

command

verb

Definition of command for English Language Learners

: to give (someone) an order : to tell (someone) to do something in a forceful and often official way
: to have authority and control over (a group of people, such as soldiers)
: to deserve or be able to get or receive (something)

command

noun

Definition of command for English Language Learners

: an order given to a person or animal to do something
: an instruction in the form of a code or signal that tells a computer to do something
: the power that someone (such as a military officer) has to give orders and to control a group of people

COMMAND Defined for Kids

command

verb com·mand \ kə-ˈmand \

Definition of command for Students

commanded; commanding

1 : to order with authority

The king commanded them to leave.

2 : to have power or control over : be commander of

He commands an army.

3 : to demand as right or due : exact

A piano teacher commands a high fee.

4 : to survey from a good position

The fort is on a hill that commands a view of the city.

Word Root of command

The Latin word mandāre, meaning “to commit” or “to order,” gives us the root mand. Words from the Latin mandāre have something to do with committing or ordering. When a task is mandatory, someone has ordered that it must be done. To command is to order someone to do something. A mandate is an order from an authority to follow specific instructions.

command

noun

Definition of command for Students

1 : an order given

Obey her command.

2 : the authority, right, or power to command : control

The troops are under my command.

3 : the ability to control and use : mastery

She has a good command of the language.

4 : the people, area, or unit (as of soldiers and weapons) under a commander

5 : a position from which military operations are directed

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command

Definition of command

commandable

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command

Definition of command

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command Synonyms

Synonyms

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command

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COMMAND Defined for English Language Learners

command

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command

Definition of command for English Language Learners

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command

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