3 syllables: do, mi, nate. Stress on do.
DAH-muh-nayt
/ˈdɑməˌneɪt/
dominate is pronounced DAH-muh-nayt (/ˈdɑməˌneɪt/). It has three syllables (do-mi-nate), with the stress on "do". To have commanding influence or control over something or someone; to be the most powerful or prominent element in a situation. The verb is commonly used in business, politics, sports, and everyday discourse to describe exerting authority or preference. In noun form, domination can refer to the exercise of power or control by one party over another. The word often implies sustained or strategic influence rather than a one-time action.
To have commanding influence or control over something or someone; to be the most powerful or prominent element in a situation. The verb is commonly used in business, politics, sports, and everyday discourse to describe exerting authority or preference. In noun form, domination can refer to the exercise of power or control by one party over another. The word often implies sustained or strategic influence rather than a one-time action.
- You might over-reduce the initial syllable, producing a clipped /də/ or /doʊ/; keep the second syllable clearly stressed as /ˈmeɪ.neɪt/ to preserve the word’s rhythm. - Mispronouncing the second syllable as /dɪˈmeɪneɪt/ or /dəˈmɒn.eɪt/ can mislead listeners; ensure the /eɪ/ finalizes with a crisp /eɪ/ rather than a lax /i/ or /ɒ/. - Final /t/ elision in rapid speech is common; practice a full /t/ release to avoid an ambiguous ending, especially in careful speech. - In some accents, the first syllable reduces to /də/; keep the initial schwa light but audible so the second syllable remains the focal point.
"The company aims to dominate the regional market through innovative products and aggressive branding."
"In the debate, she tried to dominate the conversation with well-structured points and confident delivery."
"The team dominated the game from start to finish, scoring early and maintaining pressure."
Pronounce as də-MAYN-ate with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK: /dəˈmeɪ.neɪt/. The first syllable is a reduced schwa /də/; the second syllable carries the long vowel /eɪ/ as in 'make' or 'raise', followed by a light /t/ at the end. In careful speech, ensure the final /t/ is not glottalized. Mouth: relaxed jaw, lips neutral for the first syllable; for the second, raise the mid-front tongue to maximize /eɪ/ quality, with a crisp alveolar /t/ release.
Common errors: (1) Stress on the first syllable: do-MI-nate instead of do-MI-nate? Actually, misplacing primary stress on the second syllable is common, so ensure /dəˈmeɪ.neɪt/. (2) Pronouncing the second syllable as /dɒmɪˈneɪt/ or /doʊˈmeɪneɪt/ with an Americanized or British variant? The key corrective is keeping the /eɪ/ vowel in the second syllable and not turning it into /ɪ/ or /ɛ/. (3) Final consonant devoicing or dropping: many say /dəˈmeɪneɪ/ with a silent /t/. Ensure a crisp /t/ release. (4) In rapid speech, blending the second and third elements into /dəˈmeɪn.dət/—avoid that by articulating /neɪt/ clearly.
US: /dəˈmeɪ.neɪt/, with clear rhoticity and a full /ɹ/ in connected speech; UK: /dəˈmeɪ.neɪt/ or /dəˈmɒn.eɪt/ regionally; AU: /dəˈmeɪ.neɪt/ with a flatter intonation and less vowel reduction in some speakers. While the main stress remains on the second syllable, vowel quality and the presence of postvocalic /r/ differ; Australians may have a slightly tighter /eɪ/ diphthong and less rhoticity depending on the speaker. Ensure the final /t/ is released in all accents when formal or careful speech—some informal Australian speech may elide the /t/ in rapid phrases.
The word blends a reduced initial syllable with a prominent, long second vowel and a final consonant cluster. The challenge is keeping the /də/ unstressed while delivering the /ˈmeɪ.neɪt/ portion clearly, especially the /eɪ/ diphthong and crisp /t/ release in careful speech. Additionally, the potential for vowel reduction in rapid speech can tempt you to mispronounce as /ˈdɒm.ɪ.neɪt/ or /dəˈmɒn.eɪt/. Practicing the exact sequence de- + /ˈmeɪ.neɪt/ with slow to normal speed helps solidify accurate articulation.
Yes. The key feature is the strong, long second syllable containing the /eɪ/ vowel, which often carries primary stress, regardless of speaker. You’ll want to emphasize the middle /ˈmeɪ/ segment distinctly from the final /neɪt/. The sequence should feel like do-MAYN-ate, with the glide of /eɪ/ being prominent and the /t/ released crisply at the end to avoid a trailing, softened ending.
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- US: non-rhotic? Typically rhotic; the /r/ is not present, but you’ll hear you speak with a clear /dəˈmeɪ.neɪt/. Focus on the /eɪ/ diphthong and a clear /t/ release. - UK: some speakers may have a more clipped /ˈmeɪ.neɪt/ with a slightly different vowel quality in /ə/ and a non-rhotic R; emphasize the /meɪ/ with a more open-front vowel. - AU: vowel quality tends to be flatter; ensure /eɪ/ remains distinct and keep final /t/ crisp; some speakers may drop the final /t/ in casual speech; practice with and without final /t/ depending on formality.
Dominate comes from the Latin dominare, meaning to rule or control, from dominus, ‘master, owner,’ related to domus ‘house.’ The Latin root domin- conveys mastery and sovereign power and appears in words like dominant, dominance, and dominion. In Early Modern English, dominate acquired sense evolution from literal rulership to more abstract control (emotional, social, or market dominance). The word entered English with this broader sense of influence in the 15th-16th centuries, aligning with Renaissance psychological and political vocabularies. Its modern connotations emphasize strategic sway and hierarchical leverage across domains—from corporate markets to social groups. The term is often paired with adjectives like complete, absolute, or economic to intensify the sense of control. The usage today spans formal discourse (policy, law) to colloquial conversation (a sports team “dominating” the game). The root remains tailored to power dynamics: the verb marks the action of imposing influence, while the noun form marks the state or extent of that influence. First known use in English surfaces in the late 16th century, with subsequent broadening through the 17th–19th centuries as governance, economics, and competition frameworks expanded. Modern usage frequently implies ongoing, strategic influence rather than temporary control, underscoring a connotation of sustained superiority in a given arena.
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Words that rhyme with "dominate"
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