commanding

adjective

com·​mand·​ing kə-ˈman-diŋ 

1

: drawing attention or priority

a commanding presence

2

: difficult to overcome

a commanding lead

commandingly

kə-ˈman-diŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of commanding

• presiding
• chief
• leading
• supreme
• lead
• top
• foremost
• primary
• high
• senior
• first

Examples of commanding in a Sentence

He has a very commanding voice.

She holds a commanding lead in the polls.

Our team was in a commanding position as the game neared its end.

The castle is in a commanding position at the top of the hill.

The hill provides a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.

Recent Examples on the Web

Senior midfielder Meghan O’Donnell, who scored her eighth goal of the season during Libertyville’s 3-2 win over Waubonsie Valley on Thursday, said Chung is a commanding presence. —Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Few materials feel so commanding and permanent as concrete. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2026

On Monday night, the Magic stunned the Pistons in Central Florida to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026

When nominations for the 2026 ACM Awards were announced earlier this month, the commanding storyline was the dominance by women as nominees. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing commanding

• commanding officer
• commanding presence

Rhymes for commanding

• demanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding
• outstanding
• remanding
• upstanding
• withstanding
• banding
• branding
• handing