command

noun

/kəˈmɑːnd/

/kəˈmænd/

Idioms

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order

[countable] an order given to a person or an animal

Begin when I give the command.
You must obey the captain's commands.
command to do something He issued the command to retreat.
Police said he ignored their commands to stop.

Wordfinder

army
artillery
battalion
command
defend
invade
officer
regiment
tactics
weapon

Wordfinder

admiral
aircraft carrier
base
captain
command
fleet
navy
submarine
torpedo
warship

Extra Examples

an army officer barking commands at his men
She has been teaching her dog simple commands.

Topics War and conflictb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

basic
simple

verb + command

carry out
obey
disobey
…

preposition

at somebody’s command

phrases

your wish is my command

See full entry

for computer

[countable] an instruction given to a computer

The computer executes commands successively in the order they arrive.
What is the startup command for the program?

Wordfinder

command
connect
desktop
drag
enter
insert
refresh
scroll
select
toggle

Topics Computersb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

spoken
verbal
voice
…

verb + command

enter
type
use
…

command + noun

line
prompt

See full entry

control

[uncountable] control and authority over a situation or a group of people

under somebody's command He has 1 200 men under his command.
command of somebody/something He has command of 1 200 men.
The police arrived and took command of the situation.
In 1939 he assumed command of all French naval forces.
There were many disagreements over the command of the peacekeeping forces.
in command Who is in command here?
in command of something/yourself For the first time in years, she felt in command of her life.
He looked relaxed and totally in command of himself.
the chain of command
a breakdown in the command structure

see also high command, second in command

Extra Examples

He had command of 3 000 soldiers.
He was in complete command of the situation.
She has lost command of her senses.
She was in sole command of one million pounds.
The division was under the command of General George.
under the direct command of Lieutenant Sykes
Decisions that are beyond the competence of junior managers should be referred up the chain of command.
his command over resources

Topics War and conflictb2

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

complete
full
total
…

verb + command

have
assume
take
…

command + noun

centre/center
chair
deck
…

preposition

in command
in command of
under somebody’s command
…

phrases

the chain of command
the line of command

See full entry

in army

Command

[countable] a part of an army, air force, etc. that is organized and controlled separately; a group of officers who give orders

Bomber Command

Topics War and conflictc2

knowledge

[uncountable, singular] command (of something) your knowledge of something; your ability to do or use something, especially a language

Applicants will be expected to have (a) good command of English.
She has an excellent command of French.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

excellent
fluent
good
…

verb + command

have
demonstrate
show
…

preposition

at your command
command of

See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French comander ‘to command’, from late Latin commandare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare ‘commit, command’. Compare with commend.

Idioms

at your command

if you have a skill or an amount of something at your command, you are able to use it well and completely
- With all the words at my command, I could not express how I felt.
- The vast knowledge he has at his command will be invaluable in the job.

be at somebody’s command

(formal) to be ready to obey somebody
- I'm at your command—what would you like me to do?

your wish is my command

(humorous) used to say that you are ready to do whatever somebody asks you to do

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/

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order

(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.

in army

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

deserve and get

[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.

view

[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.

control

(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

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French comander ‘to command’, from late Latin commandare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare ‘commit, command’. Compare with commend.