A2 verb Neutral #426 most common

dominate

/ˈdɒmɪneɪt/

To have control or power over a person, group, or situation. It also describes being the most important, noticeable, or strongest feature of something.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The tall mountains dominate the landscape of the small village.

The tall mountains are the most visible thing in the small village.

2

The government seeks to dominate the regional energy sector.

The government wants to have full control over the area's energy business.

3

Don't let him dominate the whole conversation tonight.

Do not let him do all the talking tonight.

Word Family

Noun
dominance
Verb
dominate
Adverb
dominantly
Adjective
dominant
Related
domination
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the game 'Dominoes.' When one piece falls, it 'dominates' the others by making them fall too.

Quick Quiz

The tech giant continues to _______ the global smartphone industry.

Correct!

The correct answer is: dominate

Examples

1

The tall mountains dominate the landscape of the small village.

everyday

The tall mountains are the most visible thing in the small village.

2

The government seeks to dominate the regional energy sector.

formal

The government wants to have full control over the area's energy business.

3

Don't let him dominate the whole conversation tonight.

informal

Do not let him do all the talking tonight.

4

Historical records show that few empires could dominate the region for long.

academic

History shows that not many groups could keep control of the area for a long time.

5

Our goal is to dominate the local market by next year.

business

Our plan is to become the most successful company in this city by next year.

Word Family

Noun
dominance
Verb
dominate
Adverb
dominantly
Adjective
dominant
Related
domination

Common Collocations

dominate the market to be the most successful company in an industry
dominate the conversation to talk more than anyone else in a group
dominate the game to play much better than the other team
dominate the skyline to be the tallest or most visible building in a city view
dominate the news to be the main story that everyone is talking about

Common Phrases

dominate the scene

to be the most important person or thing in a specific area

dominate the headlines

to be the most important news story

dominate the airwaves

to be played very often on the radio or TV

Often Confused With

dominate vs domineer

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Usage Notes

Dominate can be used for physical things (like a building) or abstract things (like a conversation or an economy). It usually takes a direct object without a preposition.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 'dominate over someone,' but in English, you usually just 'dominate someone.'

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the game 'Dominoes.' When one piece falls, it 'dominates' the others by making them fall too.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'dominari', meaning to be a lord or master.

Grammar Patterns

transitive verb (requires an object) regular verb (past tense: dominated) often used in the passive voice (e.g., 'The market is dominated by...')
🌍

Cultural Context

In Western business and sports culture, 'dominating' is often viewed as a positive sign of strength and success.

Quick Quiz

The tech giant continues to _______ the global smartphone industry.

Correct!

The correct answer is: dominate

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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