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predominant

adjective
pre·​dom·​i·​nant | \ pri-ˈdä-mÉ™-nÉ™nt How to pronounce predominant (audio) , -ˈdäm-nÉ™nt\

Definition of predominant

1 : having superior strength, influence, or authority : prevailing
2 : being most frequent or common
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Predominant vs. Predominate Example Sentences Learn More about predominant

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Choose the Right Synonym for predominant

dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant mean superior to all others in influence or importance. dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling. a dominant social class predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence. a predominant emotion paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction. unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect. preponderant evidence in her favor

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.

Examples of predominant in a Sentence

Religion is the predominant theme of the play. She is predominant among new writers.

Recent Examples on the Web

 That collection includes slave memorabilia, African American music and wax figures of predominant people such as George Washington Carver and President Barack Obama. — Savannah Eadens, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville will soon have a 'healing place' for black history at new museum on Main Street," 29 Aug. 2019 The two predominant species of sargassum in the Sargasso Sea are the only seaweeds in the world that don’t begin life attached to the seafloor. — David Doubilet, National Geographic, "Life in the North Atlantic depends on this floating seaweed," 12 June 2019 Our other, predominant lines of business are not in products and services that require a banking license. — Lalita Clozel, WSJ, "‘Fintech Charter’ Has No Early Takers as Lawsuit Looms," 12 Sep. 2018 Russet is the predominant starchy potato sometimes referred to as just a baking potato or Idaho. — Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin farmers — and diners — dig potatoes of all types and colors," 15 Aug. 2019 Agency studies suggest that 94 percent of Texans use a car as their predominant mode of transportation. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Houston’s $7 billion solution to gridlock is more highways," 5 Aug. 2019 Eventually, Segal moved the celebration to August and expanded it to run the full month, a fitting tribute to the greatest alto saxophone virtuoso in jazz and a co-founder of the predominant jazz language of the 20th century. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, "The Jazz Showcase celebrates Charlie Parker again ... for the 65th time," 30 July 2019 One of the loans in her portfolio was private, the predominant type of loan available in the 2000s when Ms. Finlaw was in school. — Michelle Hackman, WSJ, "Teachers Sue Betsy DeVos Over Public-Service Debt Forgiveness," 11 July 2019 Cousins could have a predominant role both as the team’s starting center and featured player with its staggered second unit. — Mark Medina, The Mercury News, "NBA free agency: DeMarcus Cousins agrees to deal with Lakers," 6 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'predominant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of predominant

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for predominant

Middle French, from Medieval Latin praedominant-, praedominans, present participle of praedominari to predominate, from Latin prae- + dominari to rule, govern — more at dominate

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More Definitions for predominant

predominant

adjective
How to pronounce predominant (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of predominant

: more important, powerful, successful, or noticeable than other people or things

See the full definition for predominant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

predominant

adjective
pre·​dom·​i·​nant | \ pri-ˈdä-mÉ™-nÉ™nt How to pronounce predominant (audio) \

Kids Definition of predominant

: greater than others in number, frequency, strength, influence, or authority a predominant view the predominant flavors

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More from Merriam-Webster on predominant

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with predominant

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for predominant

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