1
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over
the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of govern
As Leawood residents grapple with an influx of new development and a myriad of other issues, seven candidates are running to serve on the city’s governing council.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Juventus are facing a UEFA investigation over a possible breach of the European governing body’s financial rules.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Final thoughts The fundamental components of our physical Universe, along with the fundamental laws that govern all of existence, represent the most successful scientific picture of the Universe in all of history.
—Big Think, 16 Oct. 2025
The only way to get there is if Hamas is quickly disarmed, if the Palestinian Authority is quickly reformed and integrated into Gaza and if Netanyahu either finds some new Israeli governing partners in the center or goes into the wilderness.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Juventus are facing a UEFA investigation over a possible breach of the European governing body’s financial rules.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Final thoughts The fundamental components of our physical Universe, along with the fundamental laws that govern all of existence, represent the most successful scientific picture of the Universe in all of history.
—Big Think, 16 Oct. 2025
The only way to get there is if Hamas is quickly disarmed, if the Palestinian Authority is quickly reformed and integrated into Gaza and if Netanyahu either finds some new Israeli governing partners in the center or goes into the wilderness.
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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The plenum will be closely monitored by outsiders for clues about the inner workings of China’s opaque ruling Communist Party.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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That gap to Piastri has fallen to 94, then 69, 63, and now 55; a rate that must be of concern, as much as Stella has never publicly ruled Verstappen out of the championship race.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Minimal protections for football’s youngest players Experts argue that youth football is the least regulated of all.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
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The chimney, a symbol of the site’s industrial heritage, now functions as an intake for external air captured at 60 meters, which is then circulated through the bioclimatic greenhouse on the south facade, which Ruffini highlighted, and that helps to regulate internal temperatures.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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So are the county administrators who manage their benefits.—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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The dispute began when Nicklaus sold GBI Investors—which had licensed his intellectual property and managed his golf course design business—to Milstein in 2007.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Their innovation, called retina E-paper, uses nanoparticles to control how light scatters, achieving lifelike color reproduction that can be tuned electrically.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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Earlier this year, a New York judge held that Nicklaus controls licensing of his NIL, including for golf course designs, but that Nicklaus Companies owns the trademarks.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which can alter the pH balance of urine.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
20 Oct. 2025
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The popcorn may contain undeclared peanuts, posing a serious risk of allergic reactions.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wall Street analysts estimate the fire to cost Ford between $500 million to $1 billion in operating income.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
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Emirates confirmed to Reuters that its plane was leased from and operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish carrier that provides extra cargo capacity to major airlines.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Anglers who want to keep their catch fresh on a long drive home are better served to cover fish in a dry livewell with ice.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
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After keeping her loyalty to Tommy on their night off, this week, Kizzi is back to flirting with everyone, everywhere.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The municipal panel that oversees the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority endorsed the five-year rate plan in June.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Oct. 2025
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Under that law, citizenship applicants had to be able to speak English but the courts still oversaw the determination of applicants’ civic knowledge.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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