commands 1 of 2

Definition of commandsnext
plural of command
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2
as in proficiencies
a highly developed skill in or knowledge of something a command of French that is the result of a year spent in France as an exchange student

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3
as in headquarters
the place from which a commander runs operations the general set up his command in the old port city

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4
as in seats
a place from which authority is exercised central command

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6
as in views
all that can be seen from a certain point from his mountain perch, the scout had a command of the entire valley

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commands

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of command
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2
as in requests
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the governor has commanded that all state flags be flown at half-mast

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as in dominates
to look down on for centuries an imposing castle has commanded that stretch of the river

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7
as in leads
to serve as leader of the head of the agency commands an army of workers trained to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims

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8

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commands
Noun
The in-vehicle version of Grok, which is still in beta and developed by xAI, allows drivers to give voice commands to the navigation system in their car. Robert Ferris,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026 That includes using email, spreadsheets, calendars and other applications to follow a user’s commands on a computer. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026 The New York City Police Department said several others were arrested as a result of the protest and failure to comply with verbal commands to disperse. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026 Because Voyager 1 is now more than 15 billion miles from Earth, commands take roughly 23 hours to arrive. Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The onboard mic works great for phone calls and Siri commands. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026 Communication differences, sensory sensitivities and difficulty processing rapid-fire commands can all affect how a person responds to police. Jim Cook, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026 When the man started moving toward an officer and did not follow commands to drop his weapon, the officer shot him multiple times. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026 The latest version adds conversational ability, allowing users to interact with the system through voice commands. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
Dean's commitment to authenticity in his music is precisely why Magnolia Sage stands firmly in the territory of a future classic and commands Dean's presence as an artist's artist. Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Don’t look now, but Live Nation is shedding its low-margin promoter roots and emerging as a dominant venue owner/operator that increasingly commands the kind of premium valuation multiple its scale, control and economics justify. Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026 Gadd comes off as thoughtful and emphatic, while Ruben, his physically imposing character, commands trepidation. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 That could mean guard, which is the offense’s only open starting spot but rarely commands a second-round choice. Cam Inmam, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026 But even from the sidelines, Vandersloot clearly commands the team’s center of gravity in training camp. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 Lamb commands 201 Squadron, which conducts maritime reconnaissance patrols using Poseidons. Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026 Danielle Poole commands the Apollo-Soyuz rendezvous mission. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2026 The 1965 section centers on Basil, played by Gray, alongside Murray, who has a knack for shifting effortlessly between humor and seriousness that commands attention. Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commands
Noun
  • The rest was sent to other organizations and individuals based on McCrory’s instructions.
    Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
  • If the user followed the instructions, including entering a PIN or scanning a QR code, their Signal accounts were linked to an external device controlled by the hackers.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Lastly, players can also pick up more powerful weapons that grow stronger as their proficiencies increase.
    Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • My history suggests very successful proficiencies in this model.
    Samuel O’Neal Updated April 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That strategy also reflects the relative smaller pockets of Chinese AI firms and constraints in accessing cutting-edge chips under Washington’s export controls.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Passed as part of the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, the federal government is now instituting strict price controls on prescription drugs accessed through Medicare.
    Elaine Parker, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This is the last month (until September) in which this biggest of planets is high enough in a dark sky to permit crisp telescopic views of its cloud patterns and four big satellites.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 May 2026
  • Pratt, 42, has not been shy about his views, referring to Bass as trash, using the Spanish word basura as a play on her last name.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Federal officials have sent a letter that orders the corporate owner in the public-private partnership at Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex to bring an engineer on site, restore the powerhouse operations and provide an assessment of the conditions.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, supreme commander of the Luftwaffe, Hitler’s second in command, and the highest-ranking surviving Nazi leader, steps out of the car, stands at attention to announce his surrender, and orders the soldiers to carry his bags.
    Alice Kaplan, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The lawsuit requests the clinic undertake free genetic testing for all patients and children whose birth resulted from embryo implantation throughout the last five years, the amount of time the clinic had the couple's embryos in its possession.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Smith said that the order can be modified at a later date if the victim requests contact.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • What happens if the company is unhappy with a team’s play and demands a coaching change?
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
  • This is an enormous problem that demands a bold, urgent solution.
    Dana Suskind, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If the court rules in favor of Musk, OpenAI’s rivals would be emboldened to take the lead in the AI race.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Scorpio rules shared resources and mutual debts—not just financial, but emotional.
    Glamour, Glamour, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Commands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commands. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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