control

1 of 2

verb

con·​trol kən-ˈtrōl How to pronounce control (audio)
controlled; controlling

transitive verb

1
a
: to exercise restraining or directing influence over : regulate
control one's anger
b
: to have power over : rule
A single company controls the industry.
c
: to reduce the incidence or severity of especially to innocuous levels
control an insect population
control a disease
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

intransitive verb

: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study
used with for
control for socioeconomic differences
controllability noun
controllable adjective
controlment noun

control

2 of 2

noun

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
2
: restraint, reserve
exercised control of his passions
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
(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 controlsEllen J. Langer and Jerry Avorn
often used before another noun
Because 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
d
: a personality or spirit believed to actuate the utterances or performances of a spiritualist medium
4
or less commonly Control : control key
Choose the Right Synonym for control

Verb

conduct, manage, control, direct mean to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate.

conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group.

conducted negotiations

manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result.

manages a meat market

control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course.

controlling his appetite

direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation.

directs the store's day-to-day business

Noun

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine.

power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Cougars are paced by 11 points from junior guard Cade Crutcher as RCHS has controlled the momentum for much of the game while playing all but two minutes with the lead. Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2024 The cranes can often be controlled remotely, which U.S. officials fear could be an avenue for hackers to disrupt the economy. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 11 Mar. 2024 The camp is in a region of eastern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces, who aren’t recognized by any government. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 But in some cases, Biden wasn’t able to win policies the budget calls for, even when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress. Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 China’s Communist Party claims the island as its own, despite never having controlled it, and has vowed to take it, by force if necessary. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 By strictly aligning the signal arrival in time to the listener’s ear, Wilson Audio’s laboratory-grade loudspeakers precisely control voice and timbre, image depth, and more to create a truly three-dimensional, holographic soundstage. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 But unlike those other services, there will be nobody to make small talk with while riding in a Waymo One vehicle because the vehicles are controlled by computer software. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas — which controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza — and indicated that a long military campaign to defeat the Islamist militants was on the horizon. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
As Israeli troops aim to take control of the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, officials in Cairo warn that the move would undermine the 1979 peace treaty. Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Learn how to take control of your personal finances with Get Your Due, our six-week email bootcamp. Adriana Morga, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Moreover, repetitive rapid finger tapping is a common test of fine motor control of the upper extremities as well as a standard means of assessing the potential effects of neurodegenerative disease and traumatic brain injury. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 Use insecticides with care: In severe infestations, insecticides labeled for crane fly control can be used. The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Republicans see an opportunity to flip Brown's seat in their quest to regain control of the Senate. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 The primary factors of fatal incidents included speed, loss of control, and collisions with objects on slopes. USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 In its 10-K filing Feb. 27 with the SEC, TKO revealed two dozen additional names and taglines — previously the property of WWE — that are now in Johnson’s control. Todd Spangler, Variety, 29 Feb. 2024 It can be moved forwards and backwards electronically, revealing or concealing the car’s infotainment controls below. Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

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

First Known Use

Verb

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of control was in 1523

Dictionary Entries Near control

Cite this Entry

“Control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/control. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

control

1 of 2 verb
con·​trol kən-ˈtrōl How to pronounce control (audio)
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
controllability noun
controllable adjective

control

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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 How to pronounce control (audio)
controlled; controlling

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: 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 groupsHoward Bauchner et al.

control

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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

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