controlled; controlling
1
2
a
: to incorporate suitable controls in
a controlled test
see also controlled experiment
b
archaic
: to check, test, or verify by evidence or experiments
: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study
—used with for
control for socioeconomic differences
often attributive
1
a
: an act or instance of controlling
also
: power or authority to guide or manage
He took control of the family business.
b
: skill in the use of a tool, instrument, technique, or artistic medium
a singer's control of her voice
c
: the regulation of economic activity especially by government directive
—usually used in plural
price controls
rent controls
d
: the ability of a baseball pitcher to control the location of a pitch within the strike zone
3
: one that controls: such as
a
: a device or mechanism used to regulate or guide the operation of a machine, apparatus, or system
the controls of the aircraft
b
: an organization that directs a spaceflight
mission control
c(1)
(2)
: one (such as an organism, culture, or group) that is part of a control experiment and is used as a standard of comparison
… the residents in the experimental group also seemed to have a lower rate of mortality when compared with controls …—
Ellen J. Langer and Jerry Avorn
—often used before another nounEllen J. Langer and Jerry AvornBecause patients sometimes get better or worse on their own, drug tests also need a control group to compare the new drug with standard treatment or a placebo.—Marilyn Chase
Marilyn Chase
d
: a personality or spirit believed to actuate the utterances or performances of a spiritualist medium
4
or less commonly Control
: control key
Synonyms
Examples of control in a Sentence
Verb
The parents could not control their child.
The police controlled the crowd.
The small boy could not control the big dog.
Her family controls the business.
One country controls the whole island.
The rebel army now controls nearly half the country.
The lights on stage are controlled by this computer.
She struggled to control the cart as it rolled before her down the steep, bumpy road.
He controlled the volume by turning the radio's knob.
A thermostat controls the room's temperature.
Noun
The city wanted local control of education.
The tribes fought for control over the territory.
He took control of the family farm.
She hired an accountant to take control of her money.
He lost all muscle control in his left arm.
The soccer player showed good control of the ball.
a teacher with good control of her students
The farmer used an organic pest control on his crops.
To cut down on competition, the government passed price controls on prescription drugs.
The President wants stricter controls on immigration.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJoseph Flaherty, arkansasonline.com, 1 Dec. 2023
End-to-end soccer might be great for the neutral, but the Catalan coach believes winning is about controlling the game.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Technically, the property was acquired in August of 2020 for not quite $2.7 million by a family trust controlled by Busch Jr.’s father, William K. Busch, aka Billy Busch Sr.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
Since then, Conservative Party eminences have lined up to denounce his bid — often in essays published by newspapers controlled by Mr. Zucker’s rivals — and Tory members of Parliament urged regulators to consider the constraints on press freedoms in the Middle East.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
OpenAI’s corporate structure, which has a nonprofit board controlling the for-profit company, will also be changed, Altman and new board chair Bret Taylor said in memos to employees, later posted on OpenAI’s website.
—Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, with a 49 percent stake in the for-profit entity that the nonprofit board controls.
—Alex Heath, The Verge, 30 Nov. 2023
Select Battery Health & Charging, and then Charging Optimization, to control how your phone charges up.
—WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023
Advertisement Grossmont won the trenches on both sides of the ball and controlled the game from start to finish.
—Richard J. Marcus, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023
Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2023
But the Pogues finally cut him loose in 1991, as his drinking and drugging blew out of control.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2023
There’s also a six-person Jacuzzi on the sun deck, a state-of-the-art AV sound system with iPad controls, and DJ deck on the aft deck.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
An Indian security official with knowledge of the developments rejected the idea that any plot was officially sanctioned, and said that Indian agencies have strong controls to avoid rogue elements.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Those standards, after all, are designed to ensure that specific security controls are in place.
—Brian Contos, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The diplomat exercised an unparalleled control over U.S. international affairs and policymaking.
—Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right of the screen, then tap the AirPlay icon (the upward arrow and two circles) next to the playback controls—when your HomePod shows up in the list, tap on it to connect.
—David Nield, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023
Explore Gloria Trevi See latest videos, charts and news
However, for the first time, the Mexican hitmaker is seizing control of her narrative, through the groundbreaking bioseries Ellas Soy Yo.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2023
See More
Verb
According to the nonprofit's bylaws, the housing authority has the right to control the nonprofit's operations through the appointment and removal of board members.
—Joseph Flaherty, arkansasonline.com, 1 Dec. 2023
End-to-end soccer might be great for the neutral, but the Catalan coach believes winning is about controlling the game.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Technically, the property was acquired in August of 2020 for not quite $2.7 million by a family trust controlled by Busch Jr.’s father, William K. Busch, aka Billy Busch Sr.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
Since then, Conservative Party eminences have lined up to denounce his bid — often in essays published by newspapers controlled by Mr. Zucker’s rivals — and Tory members of Parliament urged regulators to consider the constraints on press freedoms in the Middle East.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
OpenAI’s corporate structure, which has a nonprofit board controlling the for-profit company, will also be changed, Altman and new board chair Bret Taylor said in memos to employees, later posted on OpenAI’s website.
—Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, with a 49 percent stake in the for-profit entity that the nonprofit board controls.
—Alex Heath, The Verge, 30 Nov. 2023
Select Battery Health & Charging, and then Charging Optimization, to control how your phone charges up.
—WIRED, 19 Nov. 2023
Advertisement Grossmont won the trenches on both sides of the ball and controlled the game from start to finish.
—Richard J. Marcus, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023
Noun
Coercive control is not a criminal offense in Arizona.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2023
But the Pogues finally cut him loose in 1991, as his drinking and drugging blew out of control.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2023
There’s also a six-person Jacuzzi on the sun deck, a state-of-the-art AV sound system with iPad controls, and DJ deck on the aft deck.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2023
An Indian security official with knowledge of the developments rejected the idea that any plot was officially sanctioned, and said that Indian agencies have strong controls to avoid rogue elements.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Those standards, after all, are designed to ensure that specific security controls are in place.
—Brian Contos, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
The diplomat exercised an unparalleled control over U.S. international affairs and policymaking.
—Thomas W. Lippman, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right of the screen, then tap the AirPlay icon (the upward arrow and two circles) next to the playback controls—when your HomePod shows up in the list, tap on it to connect.
—David Nield, Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2023
Explore Gloria Trevi See latest videos, charts and news
However, for the first time, the Mexican hitmaker is seizing control of her narrative, through the groundbreaking bioseries Ellas Soy Yo.
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 20 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'control.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English countrollen, from Anglo-French contrerouler, from contreroule copy of an account, audit, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus, from Latin contra- + Medieval Latin rotulus roll — more at roll
Phrases Containing control
Dictionary Entries Near control
Cite this Entry
“Control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/control. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
control
1 of 2 verb
con·trol
kən-ˈtrōl 
controlled; controlling
1
a
: to keep within limits : restrain
control your temper
b
: to direct the action of
control a plane
2
: to have power over : rule
3
: to reduce the number of individuals or cases especially to a level that is not dangerous
control insects
control a disease
control
2 of 2 noun1
: the power or authority to control
2
: ability to control
the car went out of control
keep control of a situation
3
a
: a means for controlling
the controls of an airplane
price controls
b
: an organization that directs a flight beyond the earth's atmosphere
mission control
4
b
: one (as an organism or group) that is part of a control experiment and is used as a standard of comparison
5
: reduction in or regulation of the number of individuals or cases in an area
disease control
Medical Definition
control
1 of 2 verb
con·trol
kən-ˈtrōl
controlled; controlling
1
: to incorporate suitable controls in
a controlled experiment
2
: to reduce the incidence or severity of especially to innocuous levels
control an insect population
a vaccine for controlling outbreaks of cholera
: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study
—used with for
failure to control for the difference in the rate of smoking between the two groups—Howard Bauchner et al.
Howard Bauchner et al.control
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of controlling something
control of acute intermittent porphyria
2
: one that is used in controlling something: as
a
: an experiment in which the subjects are treated as in a parallel experiment except for omission of the procedure or agent under test and which is used as a standard of comparison in judging experimental effects
called also control experiment
b
: one (as an organism, culture, or group) that is part of a control
Legal Definition
control
transitive verb
con·trol
controlled; controlling
1
: to exercise restraining or directing influence over especially by law
2
: to have power or authority over
precedent controls the outcome in this case
3
: to have controlling interest in
control
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on control
Nglish: Translation of control for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of control for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about control
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