WordGarden.iopredominate
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /prɪdˈɒmɪnˌeɪt/
US
- /prɪˈdɑməˌneɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to be more common, numerous, or widespread than others
to be the main or strongest influence, feature, or concern
Beyond the definition
Imagine a garden bursting with flowers—roses, lilies, tulips, and more. If red roses predominate in that garden, it means they are the most noticeable, the ones you see first, and there are simply more of them than any other flower.
To predominate is to be the strongest influence, the most common thing, or the element that appears most often in a group or situation. A certain style of music might predominate on the radio during summer, or a particular political view might predominate in a specific community. It does not mean that this thing is the only one present; rather, it stands out as the main or most common one. Think of it like the loudest voice in a room: it stands out over all the others.
To predominate means to be dominant, prevailing, or most frequent in a particular place or situation. It suggests that something is not only present but also has a strong influence or stands out as being more common than other elements. For example: "Blue and green colors predominated in the artist's landscape paintings," meaning those colors were used most often and created the overall impression of the artwork.
Predominate can describe physical characteristics, like the type of trees that predominate in a forest (meaning they make up the majority), or abstract qualities, such as the mood that predominates at a party (is it lively, somber, or relaxed?).
It's often used to discuss trends, opinions, or characteristics within a group. "Conservative values predominated in the small town" suggests those values were widely held and influential. You might also say, "A sense of optimism predominated despite the challenges," meaning that even though things were difficult, people generally felt hopeful.
The word comes from Latin roots meaning "to rule beforehand." This hints at its core meaning: something that takes the lead or is most powerful in a given context. It's not about absolute control—other elements may still exist—but rather about being the strongest force or most common feature. So, whether you're describing colors, values, trends, or feelings, to predominate means to be the leading influence, the most noticeable element, and the one that sets the tone for a particular situation.
Examples
- 1
City housing
In this part of the city, small apartment buildings predominate.
- 2
Art colors
Blues and greens predominate in her paintings.
- 3
Local elections
Older voters tend to predominate among people who vote in local elections.
- 4
Public reaction
After the announcement, confusion predominated for several hours.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Decision priorities
In the final decision, safety concerns predominated over cost.
- Patternpredominate over + factor
have more influence or importance than it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- outweigh
- overshadow
- loom large
Contrast
- be secondary
- be outnumbered
Used with (collocations)
- predominate in
- predominate over
- one factor predominates
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- predominateverbadjective
Forms
- predominatesverbadjective
- predominatedpast tenseverbadjective
- predominating-ing formverbadjective