command

plural commands

1. countableuncountableAn order to do something.

   I was given a command to cease shooting.

   Synonyms: behest, injunction

2. countableuncountableThe right or authority to order, control or dispose of; the right to be obeyed or to compel obedience.

   to have command of an army

   2 more examples

   GAGE, at that time, had command of troops near the lakes; and fearing an attack from the Indians, had called for some new recruits from Massachusetts; but the Assembly judged them not necessary.

   1822, Alden Bradford, History of Massachusetts ..., Richardson and Lord, page 41

   It wasn't a decisive operation, and Carthage still had command of Spain.

   2013, Barry Strauss, Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of ..., Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 68

3. countableuncountablepower of control, direction or disposal; mastery.

   a good command of language

   4 more examples

   he had command of the situation

   England has long held command of the sea

   The Indians had command of the lands and the waters — command of all their beneficial use, whether kept for hunting, 'and grazing roving herds of stock,' or turned to agriculture and the arts of civilization.

   1985, Peter Iverson, The Plains Indians of the Twentieth Century, University of Oklahoma Press, →ISBN, page 93

   Of course, we certainly couldn't carry on an actual conversation, as President Trump's command of English grammar is still quite crude—I had to gently correct him a number of times—but that doesn't negate all of his effort.

   2026 September 24, “Xi Jinping Impressed With How Much Trump's English Has Improved Since Last Visit”, in The Onion, archived from the original on 25 Sep 2026

4. countableuncountableA position of chief authority; a position involving the right or power to order or control.

   General Smith was placed in command.

5. countableuncountableThe act of commanding; exercise or authority of influence.

   Command cannot be otherwise than savage, for it implies an appeal to force, should force be needful.

   1851, Herbert Spencer, Social Statics, page 180

6. countableuncountablegovernmentA body or troops, or any naval or military force, under the control of a particular officer; by extension, any object or body in someone's charge.

   I asked myself what I was to do there, now my boat was lost. As a matter of fact, I had plenty to do in fishing my command out of the river.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I

   1 more example

   Filing a complaint against a police officer in New Bedford without the benefit of witnesses is difficult, if not impossible. The police command, from sergeant to chief, is summarily defensive of the actions of police officers.

   1977 August 20, David Brill, “Civil Custody Law Harasses New Bedford Gays”, in Gay Community News, volume 5, number 7, page 3

7. countableuncountableDominating situation; range or control or oversight; extent of view or outlook.
8. countableuncountablecomputingA directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task.
9. countableuncountableball gamesThe degree of control a pitcher has over his pitches.

   He's got good command tonight.

10. countableuncountableA command performance.

    Atkinson […] had hinted to me that the Duke of Richmond was so delighted with my acting that he should not be surprised if there was a second command.

    1809, Dorothy Jordan, letter, cited in Claire Tomalin, Mrs Jordan's Profession, Penguin 2012, p. 220

present singular third person commands · participle present commanding · participle past commanded · past commanded · first person past singular commanded · archaic present second person singular commandest · past second person singular commanded · archaic past second person singular commandedst · present singular third person commands · archaic present singular third person commandeth · past singular third person commanded · past plural commanded · past subjunctive commanded · participle present commanding · participle past commanded

1. ambitransitiveTo order, to give orders; to compel or direct with authority.

   The soldier was commanded to cease firing.

   3 more examples

   The king commanded his servant to bring him dinner.

   Go to your mistress: / Say, I command her come to me.

   c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

   We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends.

   1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Revenge”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC

   Synonyms: decree, order, enjoin

2. ambitransitiveTo have or exercise supreme power, control, or authority (especially military over; to have under direction or control.

   to command an army or a ship

   3 more examples

   Such aid as I can spare you shall command.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter II, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   You know not the power which you command.

   2023 December 18, “Galactus VS Unicron (Marvel Comics VS Transformers)” (17:15 from the start), in DEATH BATTLE!, season 10, episode 16, spoken by Galactus (Wolf Williams)

   Synonyms: lead, captain

3. transitiveTo require with authority; to demand, order, enjoin.

   he commanded silence

   2 more examples

   If thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 4:3

   The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command radically inflated transfer fees.

   2013 August 20, Louise Taylor, The Guardian

4. transitiveto dominate through ability, resources, position, etc.; to overlook.

   Bridges commanded by a fortified house. (Motley.)

   1 more example

   This observation deck commands a breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay.

5. transitiveTo exact, compel, or secure by influence; to deserve, claim.

   The best goods command the best price.

   4 more examples

   A good magistrate commands the respect and affections of the people.

   Justice commands the respect and affections of the people.

   This job commands a salary of £30,000.

   Was the family prostrated by grief? Was the sorrow at Mrs. Inglethorp’s death so great? I realized that there was an emotional lack in the atmosphere. The dead woman had not the gift of commanding love. Her death was a shock and a distress, but she would not be passionately regretted.

   1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 36

6. transitiveTo hold; to control the use of.

   The fort commanded the bay.

   4 more examples

   Up to the eastern tower, / Whose height commands as subject all the vale.

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   December 1699, Joseph Addison, letter to William Congreve One [side] commands a view of the finest garden.

   […] they made considerable progress in the art of embalming the wild fruits of their native land, so that they might command cranberries and hindberries at all times and seasons.

   1834, The Hobart Town Magazine, volume 2, page 323

   Two wooden bridges led across the river; each was commanded by a fortified house

   1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

7. ambitransitivearchaicTo have a view (of), as from a superior position.

   Farr and wide his eye commands.

   1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   I pulled in hand over hand on the cord, and when I judged myself near enough, rose at infinite risk to about half my height and thus commanded the roof and a slice of the interior of the cabin.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC

   Snowsheds and snow fences protect the line on either side of Semskfjell, but the country soon begins to lose some of its bleakness, and the tree line is regained at Lønsdal (1,680 ft. above sea-level), where the line is high on a hillside, commanding widespread views of the mountains.

   1957 August 28, H. A. Vallance, “By Rail to the Norwegian Arctic”, in Railway Magazine, page 575

8. obsoleteTo direct to come; to bestow.

   I will command my blessing upon you.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 25:21