predominant
adjective
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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.
Synonyms
- arch
- big
- capital
- cardinal
- central
- chief
- dominant
- first
- foremost
- grand
- great
- greatest
- highest
- key
- leading
- main
- master
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- overbearing
- overmastering
- overriding
- paramount
- preeminent
- premier
- primal
- primary
- principal
- prior
- sovereign
- sovran
- supreme
Example Sentences
Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2022 Yet for well over a century, fortunately, the predominant mode has been mutual affection, interlaced with a great deal of mutual imitation. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 For now, though, Brown’s predominant focus is returning to the road, bringing new music to fans, and ultimately, broadening and diversifying country music’s listenership. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Sep. 2022 Mesa, who now lives between Los Angeles and Spain, draws from her own experience living in such a rural town where tobacco was the predominant crop. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 1 Sep. 2022 Invasive insects or pathogens are the predominant drivers of extinction risk, the scientists found. Sarah Kaplan, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot targets the original coronavirus plus the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, which have become predominant in the U.S. Jared S. Hopkins, WSJ, 22 Aug. 2022 One particular section of that bank with an overhanging tree as the predominant cover produced their biggest bites each day, including a 5-pounder on Day 1 and another 5-pounder with 20 minutes to go on championship Saturday. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2022 There is a predominant view that the AI race is a national one. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Middle French, from Medieval Latin praedominant-, praedominans, present participle of praedominari to predominate, from Latin prae- + dominari to rule, govern — more at dominate
1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
predominant
adjective
predominant
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- main
- dominant
- primary
- greatest
- highest
- foremost
- leading
- first
- big
- central
- key
- principal
- supreme
- chief
- paramount
- overriding
- cardinal
- great
- preeminent
- premier
- capital
- prior
- primal
- master
- major
- sovereign
- overbearing
- distinguished
- top
- number one
- overmastering
- arch
- important
- notable
- outstanding
- noteworthy
- sovran
- superior
- signal
- grand
- No. 1
- numero uno
- eminent
- influential
- prestigious
- significant
- stellar
- senior
- illustrious
- star
- noble
- unparalleled
- incomparable
- mighty
- famous
- matchless
- momentous
- renowned
- celebrated
- high-level
- unsurpassed
- famed
- unequalled
- unequaled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- least
- last
- minor
- secondary
- negligible
- insignificant
- slight
- unimportant
- trivial
- subordinate
- inferior
- inconsiderable
- inconsequential
- trifling
- collateral
- subsidiary
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of predominant are dominant, paramount, and preponderant. While all these words mean "superior to all others in influence or importance," predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.
While in some cases nearly identical to predominant, dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.
In some situations, the words paramount and predominant are roughly equivalent. However, paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.
The words preponderant and predominant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.