What does "dominate" mean?

1. (to control or rule) to have power or control over a person, group, or place. 2. (to be most important) to be the most noticeable or important part of something. 3. (to overlook from above) to be much taller than the things around it so you can see over them. 4. (graph theory) in computer science, when one point in a map must be passed before reaching another. 5. (Roman history) the later period of the Roman Empire when the emperors had total power.

How do you use "dominate"?

Usually capitalized as 'the Dominate'.

dominate

v. · n.

US //ˈdɑməˌneɪt// UK //dˈɒmɪnˌeɪt// dom·i·nate

1 to control or rule (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to have power or control over a person, group, or place.

to govern, rule, or control by superior authority or power. Transitive — requires a direct object.

Example

The large company began to dominate the local market, making it hard for small shops to survive.

Example

Throughout the nineteenth century, the empire sought to dominate the region through a combination of military presence and strategic trade alliances.
- submit
- follow
2 to be most important (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to be the most noticeable or important part of something.

to exert an overwhelming guiding influence or to be the most prominent feature in a specific context.

Example

The tall clock tower dominates the city skyline.

Example

Discussions regarding the new environmental policy are expected to dominate the upcoming summit, leaving little time for other agenda items.
- overshadow
- prevail

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3 to overlook from above (v.)
C1 Advanced Literary

to be much taller than the things around it so you can see over them.

to overlook from a height; to have a commanding physical position over the surrounding terrain.

Example

The castle was built on a hill to dominate the valley below.

Example

The fortress was strategically positioned to dominate the mountain pass, ensuring that no army could advance without being observed.
- overlook
- tower over
4 graph theory (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

in computer science, when one point in a map must be passed before reaching another.

to precede another node of a directed graph in all paths from the start of the graph to that node.

Example

In this flow chart, the start node dominates all other points in the system.

Example

The compiler uses a dominator tree to identify blocks of code that are guaranteed to execute before a specific branch is taken.
5 Roman history (n.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Formal

the later period of the Roman Empire when the emperors had total power.

The late period of the Roman Empire characterized by explicit autocracy, following the more republican-styled principate.

Example

Historians study the Dominate to understand how the Roman government changed over time.

Example

The transition from the Principate to the Dominate marked a significant shift toward a more bureaucratic and ceremonial style of imperial rule.

Usage

Usually capitalized as 'the Dominate'.

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin dominātus, perfect active participle of dominor (“to rule, have dominion”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dominus (“lord, master”) + -or (verb-forming suffix).

Etymology 2

Ultimately from Latin dominor (“rule, have dominion”), either from Latin dominātus, the perfect active participle of dominor (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), or via phonetic alteration of the synonym dominant, from Latin domināns, the present active participle of the same. Compare the pairs predominate / predominant and obstinate / obstinant.

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Latin dominātus (“rule, command”), from dominus + -ātus, see -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, a regime handled by people of such rank).