captain
1 of 2noun
cap·tain ˈkap-tən 
also ˈkap-ᵊm
1
a(1)
: a military leader : the commander of a unit or a body of troops
(2)
: a subordinate officer commanding under a sovereign or general
(3)
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a first lieutenant and below a major
b(1)
: a naval officer who is master or commander of a ship
(2)
: a commissioned officer in the navy ranking above a commander and below a commodore and in the coast guard ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral
c
: a senior pilot who commands the crew of an airplane
d
: an officer in a police department or fire department in charge of a unit (such as a precinct or company) and usually ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief
2
: one who leads or supervises: such as
a
: a leader of a sports team or side
b
: headwaiter
c
: a person in charge of hotel bellhops
called also bell captain
3
: a person of importance or influence in a field
captains of industry
captaincy
ˈkap-tən-sē
noun captainship
ˈkap-tən-ˌship
noun captain
2 of 2verb
captained; captaining; captains
transitive verb
: to be captain of : lead
captained the football team
Synonyms
Noun
- commander
- skip
- skipper
Verb
- boss
- handle
- head
- overlook
- oversee
- quarterback
- superintend
- supervise
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The captain has turned off the “fasten seat belt” sign. the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage Verb The ship was captained by John Smith. She captained last year's team.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Corder, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Two weeks prior, the captain of UMMC Ekaterinburg, Evgeniya Belyakova, and the team’s general manager, Maxim Ryabkov, had testified in court in support of Griner—no small risk in Putin’s Russia. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022 Charles, now King Charles, served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as a pilot and the captain of a warship; Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot; Edward briefly served in the Royal Marines. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 9 Sep. 2022 Karras, who was named a team captain just months into his Bengals’ tenure, will help bring Volson along against a talented Steelers’ front on Sunday. Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 The latest news, a small piece, is Tua was named captain. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Wise was named a captain for the first time in his professional career. Jim Mcbride, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 McNamara led the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title since 2004 a season ago and was named captain by his teammates this offseason. Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2022 Jones, an Ole Miss transfer who led UK in tackles last season, was named a team captain Tuesday ahead of the season opener. The Courier-Journal, 2 Sep. 2022 Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2022 Stricker was the Presidents Cup captain in 2017 and joined Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only captains to win a Ryder Cup and a Presidents Cup. Doug Ferguson, ajc, 2 Aug. 2022 Thursday’s milestone for New England’s special teams captain will likely be little more than a footnote on the national broadcast. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Nov. 2021 Girls’ team captain Meriden Black swam for nine years before committing to water polo. Zach Mason, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Aug. 2022 Beginning his career as a Norton firefighter in 1975, Keene was promoted to lieutenant in 1990 and to captain in 2006, before assuming his current rank in 2019. John Laidler, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Blanchard has since been promoted to captain and is now listed on a Sheriff’s Department organizational chart as the head of the personnel administration bureau. Alene Tchekmedyianstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Donald is set to be the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 2008 to captain the Europeans. Adam Woodard And Adam Schupak, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 She was promoted to lieutenant in 2006 -- becoming the department’s first female fire officer -- and served in that capacity until being promoted to captain in 2019. Ed Wittenberg, cleveland, 29 July 2022 See More
Noun
After a short service, the captain of The Queen’s Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, assisted by a senior sergeant, laid the royal standard of the regiment on the steps of the catafalque. Mike Corder, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Two weeks prior, the captain of UMMC Ekaterinburg, Evgeniya Belyakova, and the team’s general manager, Maxim Ryabkov, had testified in court in support of Griner—no small risk in Putin’s Russia. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022 Charles, now King Charles, served in the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy as a pilot and the captain of a warship; Andrew served in the Royal Navy as a helicopter pilot; Edward briefly served in the Royal Marines. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 9 Sep. 2022 Karras, who was named a team captain just months into his Bengals’ tenure, will help bring Volson along against a talented Steelers’ front on Sunday. Andrew Gillis, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 The latest news, a small piece, is Tua was named captain. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2022 Wise was named a captain for the first time in his professional career. Jim Mcbride, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 McNamara led the Wolverines to their first Big Ten title since 2004 a season ago and was named captain by his teammates this offseason. Detroit Free Press, 3 Sep. 2022 Jones, an Ole Miss transfer who led UK in tackles last season, was named a team captain Tuesday ahead of the season opener. The Courier-Journal, 2 Sep. 2022 Verb
The Chicago Red Stars captain first met fellow Waubonsie Valley graduate Sarah Griffith six months earlier, when Griffith reported to training camp after being drafted out of Purdue. Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2022 Stricker was the Presidents Cup captain in 2017 and joined Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only captains to win a Ryder Cup and a Presidents Cup. Doug Ferguson, ajc, 2 Aug. 2022 Thursday’s milestone for New England’s special teams captain will likely be little more than a footnote on the national broadcast. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Nov. 2021 Girls’ team captain Meriden Black swam for nine years before committing to water polo. Zach Mason, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Aug. 2022 Beginning his career as a Norton firefighter in 1975, Keene was promoted to lieutenant in 1990 and to captain in 2006, before assuming his current rank in 2019. John Laidler, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Blanchard has since been promoted to captain and is now listed on a Sheriff’s Department organizational chart as the head of the personnel administration bureau. Alene Tchekmedyianstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Donald is set to be the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 2008 to captain the Europeans. Adam Woodard And Adam Schupak, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 She was promoted to lieutenant in 2006 -- becoming the department’s first female fire officer -- and served in that capacity until being promoted to captain in 2019. Ed Wittenberg, cleveland, 29 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English capitane, from Anglo-French capitain, from Late Latin capitaneus, adjective & noun, chief, from Latin capit-, caput head — more at head
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
1598, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing captain
Kids Definition
captain 1 of 2
noun
cap·tain ˈkap-tən
1
: the commanding officer of a ship
2
: a leader of a group : someone in command
the captain of a football team
3
: an officer of high rank in a police or fire department
4
: a commissioned officer in the navy or coast guard ranking above a commander
5
: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking below a major
captain
2 of 2verb
captained; captaining
: to be captain of
She captains the team.
captains 1 of 2
noun
1
as in commanders
a person in overall command of a ship the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- commanders
- skippers
- pilots
- admirals
- officers
- masters
- skips
- commodores
- sea captains
- commanding officers
- vice admirals
- mates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- crewmen
- crews
- crewmates
2
as in commandants
one in official command especially of a military force or base the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country Synonyms & Similar Words
- commanders
- commandants
- commanding officers
- commanders in chief
- commissioned officers
- field officers
3
as in leaders
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do we only do what the captain tells us to, so it's not our fault when things don't work out Synonyms & Similar Words
- leaders
- bosses
- chiefs
- foremen
- masters
- commanders
- managers
- directors
- lords
- helmsmen
- administrators
- overseers
- supervisors
- superintendents
- heads
- executives
- presidents
- headmen
- governors
- taskmasters
- generals
- honchos
- skippers
- kingpins
- boss men
- kings
- jefes
- principals
- rulers
- stewards
- princes
- magnates
- employers
- barons
- figureheads
- mistresses
- overlords
- bigwigs
- superiors
- potentates
- leadmen
- dominators
- directresses
- sovereigns
- czars
- moguls
- hierarchs
- straw bosses
- standard-bearers
- coleaders
- big guns
- micromanagers
- higher-ups
- gaffers
- top guns
- gangers
- co-leaders
- big cheeses
- top dogs
- sub-chiefs
- sovrans
- subchiefs
- tsars
- co-heads
- tzars
- subdirectors
- coheads
- sub-directors
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subordinates
- juniors
- subjects
- dependents
- underlings
- secondaries
- inferiors
4
as in tycoons
a person of rank, power, or influence in a particular field a fascinating magazine article profiling the captains of the American auto industry Synonyms & Similar Words
- tycoons
- magnates
- kings
- lords
- princes
- barons
- czars
- lions
- moguls
- monarchs
- stars
- bigwigs
- notables
- heavyweights
- tsars
- figures
- tzars
- nabobs
- kahunas
- honchos
- superstars
- celebrities
- personages
- gods
- big shots
- Napoleons
- personalities
- big guns
- big boys
- heavies
- VIPs
- biggies
- big wheels
- nawabs
- deities
- main men
- supremos
- fat cats
- poo-bahs
- pooh-bahs
- big cheeses
- demigods
- movers and shakers
- bigfeet
- bigfoots
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- subordinates
- lightweights
- underlings
- inferiors
- small-timers
- nobodies
- zeroes
- half-pints
- zeros
captains
2 of 2verb
1
as in supervises
to be in charge of if you do well on this, you'll be asked to captain the next mission Synonyms & Similar Words
- supervises
- oversees
- handles
- bosses
- quarterbacks
- heads
- commands
- steers
- guides
- orders
- manages
- superintends
- watches over
- shepherds
- controls
- monitors
- directs
- rules
- runs
- rides herd on
- calls the tune (for)
- overlooks
- shows
- calls the shots (of)
- administers
- reigns
- governs
- presides (over)
2
as in rules
to exercise authority or power over captained the project for a few days while the boss was out of town Synonyms & Similar Words
- rules
- governs
- bosses
- domineers
- controls
- commands
- dictates
- masters
- dominates
- heads
- manages
- oversees
- presides (over)
- sways
- leads
- administers
- superintends
- supervises
- tyrannizes
- regulates
- conducts
- micromanages
- lords (it over)
- directs
- subjugates
- conquers
- oppresses
- reigns (over)
- subdues
3
as in commands
to serve as leader of you did a good job of captaining the team Synonyms & Similar Words
- commands
- leads
- bosses
- heads
- spearheads
- oversees
- controls
- dominates
- supervises
- manages
- handles
- directs
- superintends
- governs
- regulates
- runs
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yields (to)
- submits (to)
- obeys
- follows
- serves
- bows (to)
- complies (with)
- defers (to)