dominate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dominate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to having control or dominance over a particular situation, thing, or person. Example sentence: She dominated the game and won by a landslide.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Had the bosses realized that they were in the transportation business, rather than the railroad business, they could have moved into trucking and air transport, rather than letting other companies dominate.

The Economist

Is it OK for an imported culture to dominate indigenous culture?

The Guardian

Targaryen manages to repeatedly outmanoeuvre and outwit scheming men who dominate the world of Game of Thrones and dismiss the idea that a woman might have the wherewithal to establish an empire.

The Guardian

BillyMills again: It's interesting that the Spanish chapter, which is not at all about flying, is the climax of the book; his experience of war seems to have moved his position a bit away from the solitary and towards the communal, and that is evidenced by the sheer number of other people who inhabit, indeed dominate, that chapter.

The Guardian - Books

"We want Iran to calculate what I think is a fair assessment: that if the United States extends a defence umbrella over the region, if we do even more to develop the military capacity of those [allies] in the Gulf, it is unlikely that Iran will be any stronger or safer because they won't be able to intimidate and dominate as they apparently believe they can once they have a nuclear weapon".

The Guardian

It was not Amazon's first foray into music – it sells MP3 downloads – but it was a major move in the battle to dominate the next generation of music listening technology.

The Guardian

The SNP could win more than 90% of Scotland's seats with 45% of the vote, exploiting the same "winner takes all" electoral system that enabled Labour to dominate Scotland for decades.

The Guardian

The two groups foregrounded last week have, for very different reasons, come to dominate the debate: Muslims and the "white working class".

The Guardian - Opinion

The BBC is likely to dominate Christmas viewing this year with a schedule including a Christmas Day edition of Doctor Who, starring Matt Smith and his successor as the doctor, Peter Capaldi, and the much-anticipated return of Sherlock on New Year's Day.

The Guardian

Erdoğan infuriated Iranians last month when he said the Islamic republic was "trying to dominate the region" and accused Tehran of pursuing a sectarian agenda in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

The Guardian

All the government needs to recover its poise and popularity is for Brown to be himself and let his real beliefs dominate the landscape.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dominate" when you want to emphasize a strong position of control or influence. It suggests a clear imbalance of power or a commanding presence.

Common error

Avoid using "dominate" in contexts where a more neutral term like "lead" or "influence" would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound aggressive or biased.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "dominate" is as a verb. It is used to describe the act of controlling, influencing, or having power over something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "dominate" effectively conveys the exertion of control or influence over something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct, and it is used in a variety of contexts, most commonly within News & Media. While useful for describing power dynamics, remember to consider if a more neutral term like "lead" or "influence" might be more appropriate. Overuse of "dominate" can lead to writing that sounds aggressive or biased. Related phrases include "exert control", "wield power", and "hold sway". These alternatives, while sharing semantic similarities, vary in intensity and specific meaning. Ultimately, choosing the right word depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exert control

Focuses on the act of applying control rather than the state of dominance.

wield power

Emphasizes the use of power to influence or control.

hold sway

Highlights the influence or persuasive power one has.

exercise authority

Focuses on the formal right to control or command.

reign supreme

Suggests an unchallenged and ultimate level of control.

take over

Implies assuming control, often suddenly or unexpectedly.

have the upper hand

Denotes having an advantage or controlling position in a situation.

call the shots

Informal way of saying one makes the important decisions.

be in charge

Simply means to have responsibility for something or someone.

rise above

Focuses on overcoming challenges to achieve a dominant position.

FAQs

How can I use "dominate" in a sentence?

Use "dominate" to describe situations where one entity has clear control or influence over another. For example, "The company's new product quickly dominated the market."

What can I say instead of "dominate"?

You can use alternatives like "exert control", "wield power", or "hold sway" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the word "dominate"?

It is appropriate when describing a clear power dynamic where one entity has significant influence or control, but consider alternatives if the context requires a more neutral tone.

What's the difference between "dominate" and "lead"?

"Dominate" implies a strong control or power imbalance, while "lead" suggests guidance and direction. "Dominate" can sometimes carry a negative connotation of oppression or excessive control.