verb
commandeer
ko-muhn-DEER
Commandeer (verb) means to seize property or people for military or official use, usually by force. Example: “The army commandeered every truck in the village during the retreat.”
verb
1
To seize property or people for military or official use, usually by force.
"The army commandeered every truck in the village during the retreat."
2
To take over or take control of something without permission, not necessarily by force.
"My little brother commandeered the TV remote the second I sat down."
How to use commandeer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take something over by force or without asking, often for an urgent or official purpose.
Common pairings
commandeer a vehicle
commandeer supplies
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- commandeers
- Past tense
- commandeered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The army _____ every truck in the village during the retreat.
Etymology
From Dutch commanderen ("to command"), reaching English partly through Afrikaans kommandeer during the Boer Wars in the late 1800s.
Class of 1800
commandeer joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for commandeer
See all rhymes for commandeer →Frequently asked questions
What does “commandeer” mean?
The word “commandeer” means to seize property or people for military or official use, usually by force. In plain terms, to take something over by force or without asking, often for an urgent or official purpose.
How do you pronounce “commandeer”?
“Commandeer” is pronounced ko-muhn-DEER (/kɒmənˈdɪə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “commandeer” in a sentence?
Here is “commandeer” used in a sentence: “The army commandeered every truck in the village during the retreat.”
What part of speech is “commandeer”?
“Commandeer” is a verb.
Where does the word “commandeer” come from?
The word “commandeer” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Dutch. From Dutch commanderen ("to command"), reaching English partly through Afrikaans kommandeer during the Boer Wars in the late 1800s.
How many meanings does “commandeer” have?
“Commandeer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to seize property or people for military or official use, usually by force.
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