COMMAND Definition & Meaning

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command

[ kuh-mand, -mahnd ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to direct with specific authority or prerogative; order:
The captain commanded his men to attack.
Synonyms: , , , , , ,
Antonyms:
to require authoritatively; demand:
She commanded silence.
to have or exercise authority or control over; be master of; have at one's bidding or disposal:
The Pharaoh commanded 10,000 slaves.
Synonyms: , , , , ,
to deserve and receive (respect, sympathy, attention, etc.):
He commands much respect for his attitude.
Synonyms: , ,
to dominate by reason of location; overlook:
The hill commands the sea.
to have authority over and responsibility for (a military or naval unit or installation); be in charge of.

verb (used without object)

to issue an order or orders.
to be in charge; have authority.
to occupy a dominating position; look down upon or over a body of water, region, etc.

noun

the act of commanding or ordering.
Synonyms: , , , , ,
an order given by one in authority:
The colonel gave the command to attack.
Military.
1. an order in prescribed words, usually given in a loud voice to troops at close-order drill:
  The command was “Right shoulder arms!”
2. the order of execution or the second part of any two-part close-order drill command, as face in Right face!
3. Command, a principal component of the U.S. Air Force:
  Strategic Air Command.
4. a body of troops or a station, ship, etc., under a commander.
the possession or exercise of controlling authority:
a lieutenant in command of a platoon.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , ,
mastery; expertise:
He has a command of French, Russian, and German.
British. a royal order.
power of dominating a region by reason of location; extent of view or outlook:
the command of the valley from the hill.
Computers.
1. an electric impulse, signal, or set of signals for initiating an operation in a computer.
2. a character, symbol, or item of information for instructing a computer to perform a specific task.
3. a single instruction.

adjective

of, relating to, or for use in the exercise of command: command post.
a command car;
command post.
of or relating to a commander:
a command decision.
ordered by a sovereign, as if by a sovereign, or by the exigencies of a situation:
a command performance.

command

/ ��əˈ��ɑː�Ի� /

verb

when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive to order, require, or compel
to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
tr to have knowledge or use of
he commands the language
tr to receive as due or because of merit
his nature commands respect
to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height

noun

an order; mandate
the act of commanding
the power or right to command
the exercise of the power to command
ability or knowledge; control
a command of French
military the jurisdiction of a commander
a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
1. an invitation from the monarch
2. ( as modifier )
  a command performance
computing a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action

Command

/ ��əˈ��ɑː�Ի� /

noun

any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces
Air Command

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Other �y��vlog Forms

��ǳ��Ի�a·�� adjective
��c�ǳ�·��Ի� noun verb
�ܲ�c�ǳ�·��Ի�Ļ� adjective
�ɱ��-��ǳ�·��Ի�Ļ� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of command¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English coma(u)nden, from Anglo-French com(m)a(u)nder, Old French comander, from Medieval Latin ��ǳ��Ի��, equivalent to Latin com- com- + ��Ի�� “to entrust, order” ( commend ); (noun) late Middle English comma(u)nde, from Anglo-French, Old French; the noun is derivative of the verb

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of command¹

C13: from Old French commander, from Latin com- (intensive) + ��Ի�� to entrust, enjoin, command

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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with command , also see have a good command .

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Synonym Study

See direct. See rule.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Even before the announcement, Nike was facing a slump in sales that had curbed its ability to command full price for its shoes.

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Other officers begged him to quell the dog, named Tex, which continued its assault despite verbal commands to stop, a physical release maneuver and an unsuccessful use of a shock collar, according to court documents.

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The Israeli military said it struck "prominent terrorists who were in a Hamas command and control centre" in the city, without mentioning a school.

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I gave what I consider to be a command performance for President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

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Speaking before the military's ceasefire announcement, he noted that the junta leader had "lied on numerous occasions about ceasefires and the gross violations he's commanded".

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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