noun

command

kuh-MAHND

noun

An order given with authority.

"The soldiers obeyed the general's command without hesitation."

"She gave the dog a simple command to sit."

Authority or control over people, resources, or a situation.

"The captain took command of the ship after the accident."

An instruction given to a computer program.

"Type the command to list all the files in the folder."

verb

To give an order, or to have authority over.

"The colonel commands three battalions."

"He commanded her to leave the room at once."

How to Use Command

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn authoritative order, or the power/act of controlling something.

Easily confused with

commend →

Common pairings

take command command respect chain of command command line

Word Forms

commanded past tense, commands plural, command plural, commanded plural, commands singular, command singular, commanded singular, commandest singular, commandedst singular, commandeth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The soldiers obeyed the general's _____ without hesitation.

Etymology

From Old French comander, from Late Latin commandare, ultimately from Latin com- + mandare ("to entrust, order") — a relative of "commend," "mandate," and "recommend."

Synonyms

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behest bidding commandment decree demand dictate diktat directive direction edict fiat hest

Related Words

say talk law direction administration fiat appoint demand

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