Phrase guide

command line

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A shell, a command line interface; usually used with the definite article.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • I'm so used to the command line that I don't even know how to find things in the GUI.
  • The command line offers a lot of helpful features, such as tab completion and wildcard expansion.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The text prompt presented to the user in a command line interface.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • Type the following at the command line: du -s -h.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A line of text that is entered at such a prompt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • Use the following command line to compile a file without linking: gcc -c main.c -o main.o

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

Alternative form of command-line.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

commands that a user types in order to run an application

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: instruction, command, statement, program line

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 命令行 (mìnglìngháng) — text prompt
  • Chinese Mandarin: 命令列 (mìnglìngliè) — text prompt
  • Czech: příkazový řádek — text prompt
  • Czech: příkazová řádka — text prompt
  • Dutch: opdrachtregel — text prompt
  • Dutch: commandoregel — text prompt
  • Esperanto: komanda linio — text prompt
  • Finnish: komentorivi — text prompt
  • French: ligne de commande — text prompt
  • German: Kommandozeile — text prompt
  • German: Befehlszeile — text prompt
  • Greek: γραμμή εντολής (grammí entolís) — text prompt
  • Hebrew: שורת הפקודה — text prompt
  • Japanese: コマンドライン (komandorain) — text prompt
  • Korean: 커맨드 라인 — text prompt
  • Korean: 명령(命令)줄 (myeongnyeongjul) — text prompt
  • Korean: 명령행 (myeongnyeonghaeng) — text prompt
  • Persian: خط فرمان (xatt-e farmân) — text prompt
  • Polish: wiersz poleceń — text prompt
  • Portuguese: linha de comando — text prompt
  • Portuguese: linha de comandos — text prompt
  • Romanian: text de comandă — text prompt
  • Romanian: linie de comandă (linie textuală de comandă) — text prompt
  • Russian: кома́ндная строка́ (komándnaja stroká) — text prompt
  • Swedish: kommandorad — text prompt
  • Esperanto: komanda linio — line of text
  • Polish: wiersz poleceń — line of text
  • Swedish: kommandorad — line of text