dominate
verb
dom·i·nate
ˈdä-mə-ˌnāt 
dominated; dominating
2
: to exert the supreme determining or guiding influence on
ambition dominated his life
3
: to overlook from a superior elevation or command because of superior height or position
a hill that dominates the town
4
a
: to be predominant in
maples dominate the forest
b
: to have a commanding or preeminent place or position in
name brands dominate the market
1
: to have or exert mastery, control, or preeminence
his desire to dominate
a dominating factor in industrial growth
2
: to occupy a more elevated or superior position
Examples of dominate in a Sentence
One company has dominated the market for years.
He dominated her life for many years.
His work dominated the art scene last year.
Our team dominated throughout the game.
Our team dominated play throughout the game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Talent isn’t enough to dominate this sport.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Singapore’s market is dominated by mature, value-heavy companies, which limits its exposure to the faster growth typically seen in technology stocks.
—Nur Hikmah Md Ali,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
That forward-thinking approach can be attributed to late chairman Lee Kun-Hee, who pushed Samsung, one of the mega-conglomerates or chaebols that dominate South Korea’s economy, to ditch its reputation as a fast follower and compete with the best companies in consumer tech.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Sátántangó’s desolate landscapes, dominated by mud, wind, and overcast skies, summoned a vision of earthly purgatory unrivaled in almost all of cinema.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dominate
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Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Singapore’s market is dominated by mature, value-heavy companies, which limits its exposure to the faster growth typically seen in technology stocks.
—Nur Hikmah Md Ali,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
That forward-thinking approach can be attributed to late chairman Lee Kun-Hee, who pushed Samsung, one of the mega-conglomerates or chaebols that dominate South Korea’s economy, to ditch its reputation as a fast follower and compete with the best companies in consumer tech.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 6 Jan. 2026
Sátántangó’s desolate landscapes, dominated by mud, wind, and overcast skies, summoned a vision of earthly purgatory unrivaled in almost all of cinema.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dominate
Cite this Entry
“Dominate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dominate. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dominate
verb
dom·i·nate
ˈdäm-ə-ˌnāt
dominated; dominating
1
: to have a commanding position or controlling power over
2
: to seem to command by rising high above
a volcano dominates the island
Etymology
derived from Latin dominari "to rule, govern, control," from dominus "master, owner" — related to condominium, dame, domain, dominion, don entry 2
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