TOP

Definition of command verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

command

verb
 
 
/kəˈmɑːnd/
 
/kəˈmænd/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they command
 
/kəˈmɑːnd/
 
/kəˈmænd/
he / she / it commands
 
/kəˈmɑːndz/
 
/kəˈmændz/
past simple commanded
 
/kəˈmɑːndɪd/
 
/kəˈmændɪd/
past participle commanded
 
/kəˈmɑːndɪd/
 
/kəˈmændɪd/
-ing form commanding
 
/kəˈmɑːndɪŋ/
 
/kəˈmændɪŋ/
jump to other results

    order

  1.  
     (of somebody in a position of authority) to tell somebody to do something synonym order
    • command somebody to do something He commanded his men to retreat.
    • command something She commanded the release of the prisoners.
    • command (somebody) + speech ‘Come here!’ he commanded (them).
    • ‘Get back to your room,’ she commanded.
    • command that… (formal) The commission intervened and commanded that work on the building cease.
    • (British English also) The commission commanded that work on the building should cease.
    2.

    in army

  2.  
     command somebody/something to be in charge of a group of people in the army, navy, etc.
    • In March 1942 he was appointed to command US naval forces in Europe
    • The troops were commanded by General Haig.
    Extra Examples
    • The squadron was commanded by Major Frank Broad.
    • He was the officer commanding the troops in the Western region.
    Topics War and conflictb2

    3. deserve and get

  3. [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) command something to deserve and get something because of the special qualities you have
    • to command sympathy/support
    • She was able to command the respect of the class.
    • The headlines commanded her attention.
    • As a top lawyer, he can expect to command a six-figure salary.
    4.

    view

  4. [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) command something (formal) to be in a position from where you can see or control something
    • The hotel commands a fine view of the valley.
    • They built a castle commanding the river crossing.
    5.

    control

  5. (not used in the progressive tenses) command something (formal) to have control of something; to have something available for use
    • The party was no longer able to command a majority in Parliament.
    • the power and finances commanded by the police
    6. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French comander ‘to command’, from late Latin commandare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare ‘commit, command’. Compare with commend.
See command in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee command in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: command

Nearby words

influence
verb
 
 
From the Word list
OPAL spoken words
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day