predominate

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​dom·​i·​nate pri-ˈdä-mə-nət 

: predominant

predominate

2 of 2

verb

pre·​dom·​i·​nate pri-ˈdä-mə-ˌnāt 

predominated; predominating; predominates

intransitive verb

1

: to hold advantage in numbers or quantity

2

: to exert controlling power or influence : prevail

transitive verb

: to exert control over : dominate

predomination

pri-ˌdä-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

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Predominant vs. Predominate

Predominant and predominate are synonymous adjectives. Predominant is the older and much more common form. A number of handbooks and commentators hold predominate to be a mistake—a few insisting that the word is only a verb. But they are wrong. As an adjective predominate is somewhat more likely to turn up in technical writing than in general writing. The adverbs predominantly and predominately are a more even match in frequency than their base adjectives are, although predominantly is still significantly more common than predominately.

Examples of predominate in a Sentence

Adjective

the predominate color in the painting

the predominate reason for the change

Verb

Older people predominate in that neighborhood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Musically, strings predominate, played with simplicity and sensitivity, serving as a perfect canvas to highlight his voice. —Griselda Flores, Billboard, 6 Dec. 2024

Strong geometries predominate, whether the sweeping roofline of a Dominican Republic vacation home (AD, July/August 2021) or the internal grid of a New Orleans Creole cottage (AD, April 2024). —The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 4 Dec. 2024

Verb

With young humpback whales predominating in the Indian Ocean, the population and culture of whales in the area are undergoing a major transition. —Julianna Bragg, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Fear, the emotion that predominates in Le Corbeau, seems familiar — lingering from the tyrannical Covid lockdowns, Stasi-like doxxing, denunciations, and the social antagonism endured through political partisanship. —Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

alteration of predominant

Verb

Medieval Latin praedominatus, past participle of praedominari

First Known Use

Adjective

1591, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

predominate

verb

pre·​dom·​i·​nate

pri-ˈdäm-ə-ˌnāt

1

: to be predominant : prevail

2

: to go beyond others in number or quantity

cottages predominated

predomination

-ˌdäm-ə-ˈnā-shən

noun