commanding

adjective

com·​mand·​ing kə-ˈman-diŋ 

1

: drawing attention or priority

a commanding presence

2

: difficult to overcome

a commanding lead

commandingly

kə-ˈman-diŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• chief
• first
• foremost
• head
• high
• lead
• leading
• preeminent
• premier
• presiding
• primary
• prime
• principal
• supereminent
• supreme
• top

Examples of commanding in a Sentence

He has a very commanding voice.

She holds a commanding lead in the polls.

Our team was in a commanding position as the game neared its end.

The castle is in a commanding position at the top of the hill.

The hill provides a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since launching his campaign in March, Cuomo has taken a commanding lead in the polls and siphoned some of Adams’s old political coalition. —David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Mar. 2025

The Big Cat still holds a commanding lead in career earnings at $120,999,166. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

Despite entering the final round four shots back, McIlroy held a commanding three-shot lead on the back nine. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

On Sunday, the Israeli commanding officers visited and assessed the buffer zone. —arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing commanding

• commanding officer
• commanding presence

Rhymes for commanding

• demanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding
• outstanding
• remanding
• upstanding
• withstanding
• banding
• branding
• handing