commanding

[kuh-man-ding, -mahn-]

adjective

1. being in command.

   a commanding officer.

2. appreciably superior or imposing; winning; sizable.

   a commanding position; a commanding lead in the final period.

3. having the air, tone, etc., of command; imposing; authoritative.

   a man of commanding appearance; a commanding voice.

4. dominating by position, usually elevation; overlooking.

   a commanding bluff at the mouth of the river.

5. (of a view, or prospect) provided by a commanding location and so permitting dominance.

   a commanding view of the mouth of the river.

commanding

/ kəˈmɑːndɪŋ /

adjective

1. being in command

2. having the air of authority

   a commanding voice

3. (of a position, situation, etc) exerting control

4. (of a height, viewpoint, etc) overlooking; advantageous

Other Word Forms

• commandingly adverb
• commandingness noun
• quasi-commanding adjective
• quasi-commandingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of commanding¹

First recorded in 1475–85; command + -ing ²

Example Sentences

That commanding lead also applies to its navy.

From BBC

They demonstrated how that might work, with Kidjo commanding the stage, brilliantly dressed, while Ma, seated and in a sport coat for the first part, speaking a different yet compatible musical language.

From Los Angeles Times

Another vulnerability, recognizable in the occasional cracks in Ahmed’s commanding stoicism, is the loneliness of the gig.

From Los Angeles Times

It also puts them in a commanding position to claim a spot in the quarter-finals, while Wales must realistically beat Canada - ranked second in the world - to keep their knockout hopes alive.

From BBC

Guehi's commanding defensive displays have caught the eye of many suitors, with Premier League champions Liverpool keen to sign the England international this summer.

From BBC

Related Words

• assertive 
• compelling 
• decisive 
• dominant 
• dominating www.thesaurus.com
• forceful 
• imposing 
• impressive 
• lofty