command 1 of 2

noun

Definition of commandnext
1
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the captain's commands were followed without question

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2
as in proficiency
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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4
as in seat
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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5
as in control
the right or means to command or control others the army officer in command during the attack

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in view
all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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command

2 of 2

verb

kə-ˈmand How to pronounce command (audio)
1
as in to order
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the general commanded his troops with Caesar-like imperiousness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to request
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to demand
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority an act of courage that commands the admiration of all who witnessed it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over a cabinet secretary who commands the largest department in the federal government

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5
as in to own
to keep, control, or experience as one's own local government does not command the resources that are needed to respond to such a huge disaster

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6
as in to dominate
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
as in to lead
to serve as leader of the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to ask
to set or receive as a price commands a high fee for his decorating services

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun command contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of command are authority, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When can authority be used instead of command?

The meanings of authority and command largely overlap; however, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

In what contexts can control take the place of command?

Although the words control and command have much in common, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When is it sensible to use dominion instead of command?

While in some cases nearly identical to command, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is jurisdiction a more appropriate choice than command?

While the synonyms jurisdiction and command are close in meaning, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Where would power be a reasonable alternative to command?

The synonyms power and command are sometimes interchangeable, but power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When might sway be a better fit than command?

In some situations, the words sway and command are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of command
Noun
Snell didn’t have his best fastball command in Game 1. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 Currently second in command, Fligor is responsible for the 250-person office’s day-to-day operations. —Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Icons including Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Teyana Taylor, Ayo Edebiri, and LaKeith Stanfield commanded the runway, while more celebrities—from Regina Hall to Halle Bailey—made appearances nationwide. —Okla Jones, Essence, 27 Oct. 2025 Additionally, these systems command massive power, both for running computing tasks and cooling the systems. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for command
Recent Examples of Synonyms for command
  1. instruction
  2. proficiency
  3. control
  4. view
  5. order
  6. request
  7. demand
  8. rule
Noun
  • It's also recommended to teach your children essential information like full name spellings, birthdates, addresses and any instructions on what to do in case of an emergency, according to the organization's safety plan checklist.
    — Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Use insecticidal soap, neem or horticultural oils, or Spinosad, and follow label instructions.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require all commercial truck drivers in the United States to pass a standardized English proficiency test before receiving a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
    — Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Healthcare is the field with the most certificates of proficiency and technical certificates.
    — Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of proficiency
Noun
  • Johnson reportedly regained control of the vehicle and attempted to flee again, but police executed a ramming technique, known as a tactical vehicle intervention, to disable the vehicle, the release says.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
Definition of control
Noun
  • Now the wetlands, woods, wildflower meadows and river views, which are managed and protected by River Fields conservancy, are open for the public to enjoy from dawn to dusk.
    — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The Madrid view was clear in captain Dani Carvajal’s Instagram post on Tuesday.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of view
Verb
  • Some are passing the cost on to eaters, tacking a few extra dollars onto the price of dishes when ordered for delivery—but as the economy hurtles toward a possible recession, $31 for spaghetti in a cardboard box starts to seem like a bad idea too.
    — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Families should order new copies of important documents if the original documents are lost, Velasquez said.
    — Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Definition of order
Verb
  • The associations had requested to leave a window open for companies to enhance auditing on their own.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Gill's defense attorney requested a cash bond or split bond, which would allow some of the money paid to cover future fines, fees or restitution.
    — Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of request
Verb
  • Porat and Venkatakrishnan both discussed how the moment demands urgency from governments and businesses alike.
    — Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • While it was reformulated in 2023, Glossier’s loyal community (which has always been central to the brand) demanded the original back, and the brand listened.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of demand
Verb
  • Penix was ruled out with a bone bruise to his knee, suffered in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, while London was added late to the Falcons' injury report with a hip issue, downgraded to questionable and ultimately ruled inactive.
    — Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Everyone knows that some form of Hamas—skinned of the top echelon of its leadership—has survived and rules the parts of Gaza that Israel never fully occupied.
    — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2025
Definition of rule

Phrases Containing command

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comma
command
commandant
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Cite this Entry

“Command.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/command. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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