predominate
/pri'dɔmineit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- having superior power and influence
- the predominant mood among policy-makers is optimism
Verb
- appear very large or occupy a commanding position
- The huge sculpture predominates over the fountain
- Large shadows loomed on the canyon wall
- be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
- Money reigns supreme here
- Hispanics predominate in this neighborhood