control

1 of 2

verb

con·​trol kən-ˈtrōl 

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

kən-ˌtrō-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

controllable

kən-ˈtrō-lə-bəl 

adjective

controlment

kən-ˈtrōl-mənt 

noun

control

2 of 2

noun

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

c(1)

: control experiment

(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 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

Synonyms

Verb

• bridle
• check
• constrain
• contain
• curb
• govern
• hold
• inhibit
• keep
• measure
• pull in
• regulate
• rein (in)
• restrain
• rule
• tame

Noun

• controller
• regulator

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

This language is shorthand for Kyiv agreeing to permanent neutrality in return for a security guarantee and accepting that Russia controls swathes of Ukraine. —Tom Balmforth, USA Today, 12 May 2025

The two nations to emerge from the bloody partition of British India – Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan – both claim Kashmir in full, despite only controlling parts of it. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 May 2025

Noun

By pinpointing high-privilege users and monitoring data-sharing behaviors, Reco assists CISOs in implementing stricter access controls. —Maria Williams, USA Today, 13 May 2025

This underscores that communication in abusive relationships can escalate the situation, particularly when the core issue is power and control, not miscommunication. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

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

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing control

• adaptive cruise control
• air traffic control
• animal control
• ball control
• beyond one's control
• biological control
• birth control
• birth control pill
• circumstances beyond someone's control
• control experiment
• control freak
• control key
• control rod
• control surface
• cruise control
• damage control
• executive control
• fire control
• gun control
• hold/control the purse strings
• in control
• in control of
• in the control of
• in/under someone's control
• lose all self-control
• mission control
• production control
• quality control
• radar cruise control
• remote control
• rent control
• self-control
• spin control
• spin out of control
• under control
• under the control of

Rhymes for control

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol
• flagpole

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

controllability

-ˌtrō-lə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

controllable

-ˈtrō-lə-bəl 

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

a

: control experiment

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

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 groups

—Howard 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