captains 1 of 2

plural of captain
1
as in commanders
a person in overall command of a ship the captain is responsible for everything that happens to his ship in the course of a voyage

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2
as in commandants
one in official command especially of a military force or base the captain of the largest army ever marshaled for battle in this country

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3
4

captains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of captain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of captains
Noun
Nearby, the Maritime Museum, housed in the 18th-century Grgurina Palace, tells the story of the captains and sailors who carried Kotor’s influence far beyond the bay, but save it for another visit if the afternoon is slipping away. Jonathan Wiggin, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026 The extended player-exclusive talks followed a meeting that included CEO Scott O’Neil, the LIV Golf executive suite and the league’s team captains. Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, Tétart destroyed Ligue 2 so badly that there were collusion allegations being made against league captains and coaches who voted on the MVP award. Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Lansdell, Benites, Schroder and Kelsie Whitmore were named team captains Friday. Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 Atherton’s sprawling estates have long been a magnet for captains of the tech industry and investors. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 The game also features off-island exploration, where players build ships, appoint captains, and undertake missions to neighboring islands. Barry Collins, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Following the deaths of several sailors in recent attacks , tanker captains and their insurers are expected to remain far more cautious about transiting the Strait. Justin Zacks, CNBC, 23 July 2026 That means other captains looking to hire Luke will see the incident on his record. Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Verb
Star center back and veteran captain Virgil van Dijk also captains Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world in England. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2026 Hakimi, who captains Morocco and stars for Paris Saint-Germain, is regarded as one of the best right backs in the world. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026 Camberos, who captains the Mexican side and plays for the national team, played for Angel City and Bay FC in between a first stint with América and her current tenure, while Geyse last played for Gotham. Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 22 May 2026 Rozanov captains the re-named Boston Raiders in the TV adaptation. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 May 2026 Rush lost two of his top players to The Bennett School when Reeder and fellow senior Harper Gates, both now captains for the Rebels’ premiere team, decided to pursue the new opportunity. Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026 Tigertail, 36, who captains airboat tours through the Everglades, is navigating his boat through the only route available given how dry the park has gotten this year. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026 Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee captains the South Korean team that finished as runner-up to Team Japan in Pool C from Tokyo. Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026 As Olivia Walker in the Netflix thriller, the actress captains the White House's Situation Room with the world on the brink of nuclear war. Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captains
Noun
  • On Monday, Biya reshuffled the top military leadership, replacing commanders of four of the country’s five joint military regions and promoting several senior officers to higher ranks.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • To ensure compliance, three imperial princes were tasked with personally notifying senior Japanese military commanders of the surrender.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Neither enjoyed the experience, but both became substantially better leaders because of it.
    Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • District leaders warned that the move could leave CPS vulnerable to midyear cuts if the money doesn’t materialize.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The entrepreneur’s efforts secured him a place on the list of the Philippines’ 50 richest in a challenging year when a weaker peso took a toll on the total wealth of the country’s tycoons, which shrank 8% to $79 billion.
    Naazneen Karmali, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • That has created mounting public resistance as tech companies concentrate historic levels of wealth in the hands of a select group of tycoons.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • The State Board of Education supervises public K–12 education across the state, overseeing educational interests in Kansas.
    Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • David Smith, who supervises the district’s aedes crew, said his team has received an increasing number of service requests for day-biting mosquitoes within the neighborhood.
    Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • First came an uproar over the Fever potentially skirting WNBA injury report rules as star guard Caitlin Clark worked her way through a back injury early in the season.
    Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Drake Rules Two Album Charts with Iceman Drake rules two album rosters in the United States this week.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The leader who commands the room, fills every silence, and dominates the conversation seems powerful.
    Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Despite these strict requirements, the resolution upgrade is notable since Chrome commands nearly half of the US browser market.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The American League and National League teams will be managed by John Schneider and Dave Roberts, respectively, the skippers of last year’s World Series clubs.
    Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Ludwig says many breakfast skippers end up overeating at night.
    Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Summary Many professionals discover their most impactful career lessons often come from demanding, even frustrating, bosses.
    Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And American bosses were almost as skimpy with new employees, adding staff 77% below the post-Great Recession norm.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Captains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captains. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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