a commanding officercommandingcom‧mand‧ing /kəˈmɑːndɪŋ $ kəˈmæn-/ adjective 
a commanding officer2having the confidence to make people respect and obey you – used to show approval: Papa’s commanding presence3a commanding view or position is one from which you can clearly see a long way4being in a position from which you are likely to win a race or competition easily: a commanding lead
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Polls have shown Isaacs to have a commanding lead.
- Porter has a commanding voice and moves with authority.
- The 2500-square-foot home has a commanding view of Whitby Island.
- Wilmot is commanding officer of an Army Reserve unit.
- Auriol and Biasion tore through the first four special stages to take a commanding lead.
- Does she perform several different speech acts with the word, questioning, commanding, wishing, stating?
- Even if shot to pieces the commanding position of the banqueting hall would still make it defensible.
- His recommendation was that a commanding officer be appointed with an administrative staff.
- On the upper floors are a documentation centre and administrative offices with a commanding view of the city.
- Still, it's a magnificent place, perched on a great rock jutting out into the sea and with commanding views.
- With Wright in such commanding form these days, it's bound to succeed.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a commanding officer Papa’s commanding presence a commanding leadCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a commanding officer of the SASCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1[only before noun] having the authority or position that allows you to give orders: a commanding officer Papa’s commanding presence a commanding lead (=a big lead)· Alonso raced into a commanding lead.
a commanding officer of the SAS· If a Spencer never quite reached the commanding heights, they certainly walked confidently along the corridors of power.· Labour was attempting to control what were known as the commanding heights of the economy.
· An Alex Snow try and three penalties from Andrew had given London a commanding lead.· John Lyall's team have such a commanding lead that at least one leading bookmaker is no longer taking bets on the race.· Auriol and Biasion tore through the first four special stages to take a commanding lead.
· His recommendation was that a commanding officer be appointed with an administrative staff.· Your father had a telephone call an hour ago from Judd's commanding officer.· However, its commanding officer, Maj.-Gen.· Behind the familiar trestle table with its grey army blanket, sat the commanding officer flanked by two others of lesser rank.· Dysart's commanding officer on his very first ship to be precise.· Willys, in defiance of the royal wishes, marched out to welcome his old commanding officer.· A kind letter from the commanding officer, his kit bag.
· Even if shot to pieces the commanding position of the banqueting hall would still make it defensible.· In a commanding position high on a hill overlooking the village stands the church of All Saints.· By the time he entered London he was in a commanding position.· Jackson squirmed forward on the sofa to try and get in a commanding position.
a commanding officer2having the confidence to make people respect and obey you – used to show approval: Papa’s commanding presence3a commanding view or position is one from which you can clearly see a long way4being in a position from which you are likely to win a race or competition easily: a commanding lead