commandeer
/kɒmənˈdɪə(ɹ)/verb
commandeer is spelled C-O-M-M-A-N-D-E-E-R: 10 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 71,529th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, commandeer means “To seize for military use” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in commandeer?
| Letters | 10: C-O-M-M-A-N-D-E-E-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 71,529th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is commandeer?
Commandeer appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 71,529th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce commandeer?
- /kɒmənˈdɪə(ɹ)/
Commandeer has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-commandeer.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of commandeer
- commandeers present, singular, he/she/it
- commandeering participle, present
- commandeered participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does commandeer mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To seize for military use.
- 2
To force into military service.
- 3
To take arbitrarily or by force.
- 4
To take or use for some purpose (not necessarily arbitrarily or by force).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Commandeer in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | réquisitionner , enrôler de force |
| German | requirieren |
| Portuguese | requisição administrativa |
| Spanish | requisar , reclutar , usurpar, arrebatar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does commandeer come from?
First attested in the late 19th century. From Dutch commanderen (“to command”), partially through its descendant, Afrikaans kommandeer (“to command”). Ultimately from French commander, from Old French comander, from Latin commendare. Doublet of command.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).