Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to preponderate

to preponderate

9.4
To be greater or more important than something else
  • verb
  • /prɪˈpɒndəreɪt/
  • Formal
translation icon : predominar
  • In this debate, the scientific evidence clearly preponderates over personal opinions.

Examples

  • I cherish the anxious hope that meaning will preponderate and win the battle.

    Blog text (15)

  • In the recent election, the votes in favor of the new policy preponderated over those against it.

  • The team's strength preponderates due to the experience of its veteran players.

Synonyms

to outweigh
vsto preponderate
75 4.2

To be more important or valuable than something else

is about larger numbers or force rather than only importance
to predominate
vsto preponderate
8 6.7

To be more common or important than others

is used more generally to compare overall weight or importance
to outbalance
vsto preponderate
1 7.1

To be more important than something else

is more about being greater in number or force than just importance
to overbalance
vsto preponderate
1 6.7

To be more important than something else

is used to stress being greater in number force or influence instead

How Dominant

to overwhelm
42 4.0
to dominate
275 3.7
to preponderate
  • Formal
9.4
to outweigh
75 4.2

Surface Forms

preponderate infinitive
preponderated past
preponderated past participle
preponderating present participle
preponderates third person singular

Morphology

preponderate = preponderance (semi-transparent) = pre + ponder + ate

The verb's meaning aligns directly with the noun 'preponderance', so knowing the noun makes the verb's meaning predictable.

Etymology

Preponderate comes from Latin parts pre- ('before') and ponderare from pondus ('weight'), the same root as ponderous ('heavy'). So to preponderate is to 'weigh more' and therefore to be greater or to outweigh something.