dominate
verb
dom·i·nate
ˈdä-mə-ˌnāt 
dominated; dominating
2
: to exert the supreme determining or guiding influence on
the ambition that has dominated his life
3
: to overlook from a superior elevation or command because of superior height or position
a hill that dominates the town
4
a
: to be predominant in
sugar maples dominate the forest
b
: to have a commanding or preeminent place or position in
name brands dominate the market
1
: to have or exert mastery, control, or preeminence
his desire to dominate
a dominating factor in industrial growth
2
: to occupy a more elevated or superior position
Examples of dominate in a Sentence
One company has dominated the market for years.
He dominated her life for many years.
His work dominated the art scene last year.
Our team dominated throughout the game.
Our team dominated play throughout the game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Houston and Florida play for title and put a different spin on the underdog role to wrap the NCAA Tournament
UConn returns to top of women’s basketball, dominates South Carolina 82-59 to capture its 12th NCAA title
Tomislav Ivišić will return to Illinois — and be joined by twin Zvonimir.
—
Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
The singer-songwriter has spent the past several years not just dominating the music rankings in the U.S. and abroad, but essentially rewriting what commercial success looks like for a solo artist in the modern age.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Politics are dominating the popular vernacular like never before, and the introduction of the Trump store on Amazon will certainly add to that ongoing conversation.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025
On the flipside, global competition for access to finite resources and to dominate the next generation of growth industries—clean energy, grid resilience, electric vehicles, sustainable food solutions—is redrawing supply chains, trade agreements, and geopolitics.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dominate
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Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
The singer-songwriter has spent the past several years not just dominating the music rankings in the U.S. and abroad, but essentially rewriting what commercial success looks like for a solo artist in the modern age.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Politics are dominating the popular vernacular like never before, and the introduction of the Trump store on Amazon will certainly add to that ongoing conversation.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025
On the flipside, global competition for access to finite resources and to dominate the next generation of growth industries—clean energy, grid resilience, electric vehicles, sustainable food solutions—is redrawing supply chains, trade agreements, and geopolitics.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dominate
Cite this Entry
“Dominate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dominate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dominate
verb
dom·i·nate
ˈdäm-ə-ˌnāt
dominated; dominating
1
: to have a commanding position or controlling power over
2
: to seem to command by rising high above
a volcano dominates the island
Etymology
derived from Latin dominari "to rule, govern, control," from dominus "master, owner" — related to condominium, dame, domain, dominion, don entry 2
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