Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense commands, present participle commanding, past tense, past participle commanded
1. verb
If someone in authority commands you to do something, they tell you that you must do it.
[mainly written]
He commanded his troops to attack. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
'Get in your car and follow me,' he commanded. [VERB with quote]
He commanded that roads be built to link castles across the land. [VERB that]
'Don't panic,' I commanded myself. [VERB noun with quote]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: order, tell, charge [formal], demand More Synonyms of command
Command is also a noun.
The tanker failed to respond to a command to stop.
I closed my eyes at his command.
...the note of command in his voice.
2. verb [no cont]
If you command something such as respect or obedience, you obtain it because you are popular, famous, or important.
...an excellent physician who commanded the respect of all his colleagues. [VERB noun]
There is no limit to what can be achieved here because of the fantastic support wecommand. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: receive, get, be given, gain More Synonyms of command
3. verb
If an army or country commands a place, they have total control over it.
The Royal Navy would command the seas. [VERB noun]
Yemen commands the strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. [VERB noun]
Command is also a noun.
...the struggle for command of the air. [+ of]
4. verb
An officer who commands part of an army, navy, or air force is responsible for controlling and organizing it.
...the French general who commands the U.N. troops in the region. [VERB noun]
He didn't just command. He personally fought in several heavy battles. [VERB]
Synonyms: have authority over, lead, head, control More Synonyms of command
Command is also a noun.
...a small garrison under the command of Major James Craig.
He took command of 108 Squadron. [+ of]
5. countable noun [with singular or plural verb]
In the armed forces, a command is a group of officers who are responsible for organizing and controlling part ofan army, navy, or air force.
He had authorisation from the military command to retaliate.
The army's supreme command has said the army will withdraw.
6. collective countable noun [oft in names after n]
In the armed forces, a command is a group of soldiers that a particular officer is in charge of.
There would continue to be a joint command of U.S. and Saudi forces operating withinSaudi borders.
...the Strategic Air Command.
7. countable noun
In computing, a command is an instruction that you give to a computer.
8. uncountable noun
If someone has command of a situation, they have control of it because they have, or seem to have, power or authority.
Whoever was waiting for them there had command of the situation.
Mr Baker would take command of the campaign. [+ of]
It was his senior partner who was in command.
9. uncountable noun
Your command of something, such as a foreign language, is your knowledge of it and your ability to use this knowledge.
His command of English was excellent. [+ of]
...a singer with a natural command of melody.
Synonyms: knowledge, ability, grasp, mastery More Synonyms of command
10. verb [no cont]
If a place commands a view, especially an impressive one, you can see the view clearly from that place. If a person commands a view of something, they can see it clearly from where they are.
[formal]
The house commanded some splendid views of Delaware Bay. [VERB noun]
...a point of rock, from which we could command a view of the loch. [VERB noun]
11. See also high command, second-in-command
12.
See have sth at one's command
13.
See be in command/be in command of yourself
More Synonyms of command
command in British English
(kəˈmɑːnd)
verb
1. (when tr, may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
to order, require, or compel
2.
to have or be in control or authority over (a person, situation, etc)
3. (transitive)
to have knowledge or use of
it takes practice to command a language
4. (transitive)
to receive as due or because of merit
a leader who commands respect
5.
to dominate (a view, etc) as from a height
noun
6.
an order; mandate
7.
the act of commanding
8.
the power or right to command
9.
the exercise of the power to command
10.
ability or knowledge; control
a command of French
11. mainly military
the jurisdiction of a commander
12.
a military unit or units commanding a specific area or function, as in the RAF
13. British
a.
an invitation from the monarch
b.
(as modifier)
a command performance
14. computing
a word or phrase that can be selected from a menu or typed after a prompt in order to carry out an action
Word origin
C13: from Old French commander, from Latin com- (intensive) + mandāre to entrust, enjoin, command
Command in British English
(kəˈmɑːnd)
noun
any of the three main branches of the Canadian military forces
Air Command
command in American English
(kəˈmænd; kəˈmɑnd)
verb transitive
1.
to give an order or orders to; direct with authority
2.
to have authority or jurisdiction over; control
3.
to have ready for use
to command a large vocabulary
4.
to deserve and get; require as due, proper, or becoming
to command respect
5.
to control or overlook from a higher position
the fort commands the entire valley
6. Obsolete
to demand authoritatively
verb intransitive
7.
to exercise power or authority; be in control; act as a commander
8.
to overlook, as from a height
noun
9.
the act of commanding
10.
an order; direction; mandate
11.
authority to command
12.
power to control or dominate by position
13.
range of view
14.
ability to have and use; mastery
15.
a.
a military or naval force, organization, or district, under a specified authority or jurisdiction
b.
air command
16.
the post where the person in command is stationed
17. Computing
a.
a request entered on a terminal to have a particular function performed
b.
instruction (sense 3) instruction (sense 3c)
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈpower
SYNONYMY NOTE: command, when it refers to a giving of orders, implies the formal exercise of absolute authority,as by a sovereign or military leader; , order often stresses peremptoriness, sometimes suggesting an arbitrary exercise of authority[I ordered him out of the house]; direct, instruct are both used in connection with supervision, as in business relations, , instruct perhaps more often stressing explicitness of details in the directions given; , enjoin suggests a directing with urgent admonition [he enjoined them to secrecy] and sometimes implies a legal prohibition; charge implies the imposition of a task as a duty, trust, or responsibility
Word origin
ME commanden < OFr comander < VL *commandare < L com-, intens. + mandare, to commit, entrust: see mandate
Examples of 'command' in a sentence
command
In addition the government must command the confidence of both houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The booted not the suited should command the attention and quicken the pulse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If technology laws infringe liberties but do not stop crime then they will not command public respect.
Computing (2010)
Everyone seeks control, none commands it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His command in the air helped City double their lead.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There’s very little evidence that command and control is effective, or can avoid a massive inflation of cost.
Computing (2010)
Only a truly addictive service, a utility, could command such power.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You need a command and control structure.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It also has to command public consent and confidence to be accepted.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Under his command the force did bring down crime figures but was still struggling to improve.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You get the chance to be in the spotlight where you command the attention of others.
The Sun (2016)
It is very easy to move up to command your own group of people.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They can also give commands via a radio speaker.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His command of language and dialogue was also unrivalled.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It still has the loyalty of the army high command.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
To be commanding in the air requires courage and technique.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Conservative high command is the victim of wishful thinking.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He commands his area well and has a knack of pulling off spectacular saves.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
These can be linked to computer commands.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is the way to project power and command respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The threat is not just to military command and control systems.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But it seems the command and control of this siege operation lacked all those things.
The Sun (2012)
Your chart bubbles with potential and you finally command the respect you deserve.
The Sun (2011)
For this reason properties with a view command a premium.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The vessels will provide command and control as well as helicopter and small boat support.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And the governor commanded that she also be brought to the platform.
Christianity Today (2000)
He will command respect and attention despite his appearance.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
Park was given a training command.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
People were therefore obliged by considerations of self-interest to obey the commands of established government.
Eccleshall, Robert English Conservatism since the Restoration: An introduction and anthology (1990)
He was losing command of the situation and by August he was fired.
Deborah Cadbury THE LOST KING OF FRANCE: Revolution, Revenge and the Search for Louis XVII (2002)
This small, elite group can command very high salaries, which continue to grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
command
British English: command /kəˈmɑːnd/ NOUN
If you give someone a command to do something, you order them to do it.
The tanker failed to respond to a command to stop.
American English: command
Arabic: أَمْر
Brazilian Portuguese: ordem
Chinese: 指令
Croatian: zapovijed
Czech: příkaz
Danish: befaling
Dutch: commando
European Spanish: orden instrucción
Finnish: käsky
French: ordre
German: Befehl
Greek: εντολή
Italian: comando ordine
Japanese: 命令
Korean: 명령
Norwegian: kommando
Polish: rozkaz
European Portuguese: comando
Romanian: ordin
Russian: команда
Latin American Spanish: orden
Swedish: order
Thai: คำสั่ง
Turkish: emir
Ukrainian: наказ
Vietnamese: mệnh lệnh
British English: command VERB
If someone in authority commands you to do something, they tell you that you must do it.
He commanded his troops to attack.
American English: command
Brazilian Portuguese: ordenar
Chinese: 命令
European Spanish: ordenar
French: commander
German: befehligen
Italian: comandare a
Japanese: 命令する
Korean: 명령하다
European Portuguese: ordenar
Latin American Spanish: ordenar
All related terms of 'command'
Air Command
the Canadian air force
command key
(on a computer keyboard ) a key used when executing commands
command line
typed instructions that access a computer system
command paper
(in Britain) a government document that is presented to Parliament , in theory by royal command
command post
A command post is a place from which a commander in the army controls and organizes their forces.
high command
The high command is the group that consists of the most senior officers in a nation's armed forces.
self-command
→ self-control
Bomber Command
a former unit of the Royal Air Force dedicated to tactical and strategic bombing during World War II and the first decades of the Cold War
command economy
In a command economy , business activities and the use of resources are decided by the government, and not by market forces.
command loyalty
Loyalty is the quality of staying firm in your friendship or support for someone or something.
command module
a module used as the control room and living quarters in a spacecraft and functioning as the splashdown vehicle
command respect
If you have respect for someone, you have a good opinion of them.
control command
a keyed instruction conveyed to a computer by using the control key in conjunction with the standard keys
Fighter Command
a former unit of the Royal Air Force dedicated to the use of fighter aircraft, noted for its success against German bombers and their escorts during the Battle of Britain
Mobile Command
the Canadian army and other land forces
command guidance
a method of controlling a missile during flight by transmitting information to it
command language
the language used to access a computer system
command structure
The structure of something is the way in which it is made, built, or organized .
Maritime Command
the naval branch of the Canadian armed forces
chain of command
the various individual officers , ranks etc that constitute a hierarchy each level receiving orders from the one above it and passing on the orders to the one below
command a majority
A majority is the difference between the number of votes or seats in parliament or legislature that the winner gets in an election, and the number of votes or seats that the next person or party gets.
command a salary
A salary is the money that someone is paid each month by their employer , especially when they are in a profession such as teaching , law, or medicine.
command performance
A command performance is a special performance of a play or show which is given for a head of state.
second-in-command
A second-in-command is someone who is next in rank to the leader of a group, and who has authority to give orders when the leader is not there.
command and control
authority exercised by a commander or a military force
Strategic Air Command
a former American Air Force and Defence command , disbanded in 1992
have sth at one's command
If you have a particular skill or particular resources at your command , you have them and can use them fully .
centralized economy
an economy in which business activities and the allocation of resources are determined by government order rather than market forces
planned economy
an economy in which business activities and the allocation of resources are determined by government order rather than market forces
be in command/be in command of yourself
If you are in command or in command of yourself , you are relaxed and able to react and behave in the way that you want to.