Definition

1. Verb:

   • To be the main or most important element; to be greater in number, amount, or influence than others.
   • To appear larger or more important than other things; to be the most noticeable feature.

2. Adjective:

   • Having superior power, influence, or quantity; being the most common or conspicuous.

Usage

• Verb: Use "predominate" to describe a situation where one element is more significant, numerous, or powerful than others. It can be used intransitively or with "over" to specify what is being dominated.
• Adjective: Use "predominate" (less common than the synonymous "predominant") to describe the element that holds the superior position.

Examples

• Verb:
  • In this forest, oak trees predominate.
  • A feeling of optimism predominated among the team members.
  • The concerns for safety predominate over all other considerations in this project.
• Adjective:
  • The predominate color in the painting is a deep blue. (Note: "predominant" is more frequently used in this adjectival sense.)

Advanced Usage

• "to predominate over": To be more powerful, influential, or noticeable than something else.
  • In the city's skyline, the cathedral predominates over all other buildings.
• Used in formal, academic, or descriptive contexts to discuss trends, demographics, or visual compositions.

Variants and Related Words

• Predominant (Adjective): The more common adjectival form meaning "most common, conspicuous, or important."
  • The predominant opinion was to postpone the event.
• Predominantly (Adverb): Mainly; for the most part.
  • The audience was predominantly young adults.
• Predominance (Noun): The state or condition of being predominant.
  • The predominance of digital media has changed how we consume news.

Synonyms

• Verb: Dominate, prevail, reign, rule, outweigh.
• Adjective: Dominant, main, primary, principal, prevailing.

Antonyms

• Verb: Recede, submit, yield.
• Adjective: Minor, secondary, subordinate.

Related Phrases

• Hold sway: To have great power or influence; a phrase similar in meaning to "predominate."
  • Traditional values held sway in the community for generations.

Adjective

1. having superior power and influence
   • the predominant mood among policy-makers is optimism

Verb

1. appear very large or occupy a commanding position
   • The huge sculpture predominates over the fountain
   • Large shadows loomed on the canyon wall
2. be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
   • Money reigns supreme here
   • Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood