dominate

/ˈdɒmɪneɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɑːmɪneɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdä-mə-ˌnāt/ (ame, mw)

dominate — 動詞

  • dominatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • dominateshe / she / it
  • dominatedpast simple
  • dominating-ing form

1. to have power or controlling influence over someone or something, often in a for

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

支配；控制

對人或事物行使強大影響力

to have power or controlling influence over someone or something, often in a forceful or unpleasant way — for example, a big company dominating a market by pushing out competitors, or a person dominating a conversation by not letting others speak.

例句

The tech giant has dominated the search engine market for nearly two decades.

這家科技巨頭主導搜尋引擎市場已將近二十年。

dominate + market = control the largest share

Roya's older brother used to dominate every conversation at the dinner table.

Roya 的哥哥以前在餐桌上總是控制每一場對話。

dominate a conversation = talk much more than others

同義詞
  • control

    more neutral; 'dominate' implies greater force or unfairness

  • rule

    suggests formal authority or governance, not just influence

  • overshadow

    emphasises making others seem less important by comparison

  • command

    suggests authority backed by position or expertise

反義詞
  • submit

    opposite action — to yield to someone else's control

  • follow

    opposite role — to be guided rather than guide

文法句型

dominate + noun phrase

dominate over + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently implies an unfair or overly assertive use of power. Can be used transitively (dominate someone/something) or with 'over' (dominate over someone), though the transitive form is more common in modern English.

常見錯誤

❌The boss dominated over his employees in a fair way.
✅The boss managed his employees fairly.
💡'dominate' usually carries a negative sense of unfair control, not neutral management.

2. to stand out as the main or most striking element in a group, area, or situation

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

主導

成為最大或最顯著的部分

to stand out as the main or most striking element in a group, area, or situation — for example, a skyscraper that dominates the skyline, or a topic that dominates the news.

例句

The new skyscraper dominates the city skyline, visible from every district.

這棟新建的摩天大樓主導了城市天際線，從每個行政區都看得見。

dominate + skyline = be the most visible feature

Red and gold colors dominated the wedding decorations, creating a warm atmosphere.

紅色和金色在婚禮佈置中佔據主體，營造出溫暖的氛圍。

color + dominate = be the most used or noticeable color

同義詞
  • predominate

    very similar in meaning but slightly more formal

  • prevail

    suggests being widespread or generally accepted

  • be prominent

    less forceful; simply means 'easily seen or noticed'

反義詞
  • be minor

    opposite — to be a small or unimportant part

文法句型

dominate + noun phrase (the area, the discussion, the news)

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1 (CONTROL), this sense has no negative connotation — it simply describes what is most prominent or prevalent. The subject is typically a colour, topic, feature, or element rather than a person.

常見錯誤

❌The economy dominated the news, making people worried.
✅The economy dominated the news throughout the election season.
💡'dominate' in this sense simply states what is most prominent; it does not carry the negative force of sense 1.

3. to stand or be positioned high above something, looking down on it from a greate

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

俯瞰；聳立

因高度優勢而居高臨下

to stand or be positioned high above something, looking down on it from a greater height — for example, a castle on a hill that dominates the surrounding valley, or a tall statue that dominates a public square.

例句

The ancient castle dominates the valley below, standing on a steep hill.

這座古老城堡矗立在陡峭的山丘上，俯瞰著下方的山谷。

physical feature + dominate + area below

A massive stone Buddha statue dominates the entrance to the temple complex.

一尊巨大的石雕佛像聳立在寺廟建築群的入口處。

同義詞
  • tower above

    more direct and visual; emphasises height difference

  • overlook

    neutral description of position; lacks the commanding feel of 'dominate'

  • loom over

    suggests something large and slightly threatening in appearance

反義詞

文法句型

dominate + noun phrase (valley, square, entrance)

用法筆記

Only used for physical height or elevation — unlike senses 1 and 2, which are abstract. The subject is always a physical structure or landform, and the object is the area below or around it.

常見錯誤

❌The CEO dominated the employees from his top-floor office.
✅The CEO's office on the top floor overlooked the city.
💡sense 3 (TOWER OVER) applies to physical structures and landscapes, not to people in positions of power.