control

verb

con·trol | \ kən-ˈtrōl

controlled; controlling

Definition of control

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a archaic : to check, test, or verify by evidence or experiments

b : to incorporate suitable controls in a controlled experiment

2a : 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

intransitive verb

: to incorporate controls in an experiment or study —used with for control for socioeconomic differences

control

noun, often attributive

Definition of control (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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 controlsrent 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(1) : 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

(2) : one (such as an organism, culture, or group) that is part of a control

b : a device or mechanism used to regulate or guide the operation of a machine, apparatus, or system the controls of the aircraft

c : an organization that directs a spaceflight mission control

d : a personality or spirit believed to actuate the utterances or performances of a spiritualist medium

4 or less commonly Control : control key

Other Words from control Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about control

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Other Words from control

Verb

controllability \ kən-ˌtrō-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

controllable \ kən-ˈtrō-lə-bəl

\ adjective

controlment \ kən-ˈtrōl-mənt

\ noun

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 28 host accounts allegedly controlled by the group were central to its financial success, the city says. — Paris Martineau, WIRED, "How 9 People Built an Illegal $5M Airbnb Empire in New York," 24 June 2019 The company in recent years acquired MTR Gaming Group, Isle of Capri Casinos, and Tropicana Entertainment Inc., which was controlled by Icahn. — BostonGlobe.com, "Stories you may have missed from the world of business," 24 June 2019 In 2013, a sweeping, bipartisan rewrite of immigration laws passed the Senate but fizzled in the House, then controlled by Republicans. — Catherine Lucey, WSJ, "Lawmakers Skeptical of Asylum-Law Changes in Two Weeks," 23 June 2019 Our Wisconsin laws require drivers to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks of intersections NOT controlled by traffic signals. — Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, "Sunday Bulletin Board: It had been a bear of a day . . . and then a bear showed up!," 23 June 2019 In the Aegean resort town of Datca, whose municipal government is controlled by the CHP, officials made a tongue-in-cheek effort to encourage Imamoglu supporters to head back to Istanbul and vote. — Laura King, latimes.com, "Repeat election for Istanbul mayor is a key test for Turkey’s authoritarian-minded president," 22 June 2019 Jagger twirled his minuscule hips and gangly limbs in a dance with that rhythm, as if his body were being controlled by the flicks of Watts’ wrists. — Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, "The Rolling Stones review: A rejuvenated Mick Jagger leads the band at Soldier Field," 22 June 2019 But now, the chairmen will just need a nod from a five-person leadership committee (three Democrats, two Republicans) controlled by Pelosi. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "Why Pelosi Continues to Deflect the Censure Gambit," 22 June 2019 The card is typically controlled by a third person, not the beneficiary or card user. — Wesley E. Wright, Houston Chronicle, "Elder Law: Spending card protects seniors, persons who are disabled," 21 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

With the rise in status, Juana became increasingly politically useful and Philip began attempting to assert increasing control over his independent-minded wife. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "What Was Catherine of Aragon's Sister, Juana la Loca, Really Like?," 10 June 2019 Your strategies and agendas may gain little traction and your attempts to exert control over a situation might fall flat for now. — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive.com, "Horoscope for June 9, 2019: Capricorn, be patient; Taurus, savor the process," 9 June 2019 The broad scope of fears underscores how wide-ranging China’s crackdown on civil society has been as President Xi Jinping has sought to tighten the party’s control over the country. — Austin Ramzy, New York Times, "Fearing China’s Rule, Hong Kong Residents Resist Extradition Plan," 7 June 2019 Having championed and signed bills to increase government control over the state’s energy economy, local education decisions and health care this legislative session, Gov. Jared Polis took a surprisingly free-market approach to state licensure. — Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, "Kafer: Polis’ libertarian streak shows in his vetoes of three more occupational licenses," 7 June 2019 By positioning itself as a powerful intermediary between the realms of education and government, the College Board has too much control over how the one translates into the other. — Annie Abrams, The New Republic, "The College Board Hopes to Profit from “Adversity”," 6 June 2019 Let’s look at another country that has tightened control over its internet. — Justin Sherman, WIRED, "Russia and Iran Plan to Fundamentally Isolate the Internet," 6 June 2019 Beijing will have less control; that’s one of the realities of engaging in global trade. — Therese Shaheen, National Review, "China’s ‘New Long March’," 5 June 2019 But there is growing evidence that a handful of gatekeepers have come to capture control over key arteries of online commerce, content, and communications. — Anchorage Daily News, "Facebook, Google and other tech giants to face antitrust investigation by House lawmakers," 4 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'control.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near control

Statistics for control

Last Updated

27 Jun 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for control

The first known use of control was in 1523

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More Definitions for control

control

verb

English Language Learners Definition of control

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to direct the behavior of (a person or animal) : to cause (a person or animal) to do what you want

: to have power over (something)

: to direct the actions or function of (something) : to cause (something) to act or function in a certain way

control

noun

English Language Learners Definition of control (Entry 2 of 2)

: the power to make decisions about how something is managed or done

: the ability to direct the actions of someone or something

: an action, method, or law that limits the amount or growth of something

See the full definition for control in the English Language Learners Dictionary

control

verb

con·trol | \ kən-ˈtrōl

controlled; controlling

Kids Definition of control

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to have power over "Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors…"— Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief

2 : to direct the actions or behavior of Police can control a crowd.

3 : to keep within bounds : restrain Learn to control your temper.

4 : to direct the function of How do you control this machine?

control

noun

Kids Definition of control (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the power or authority to manage The city wanted local control of education.

2 : ability to keep within bounds or direct the operation of The fire is out of control. He lost control of the car.

3 : self-restraint I lost control and started yelling.

4 : regulation sense 2 price controls

5 : a device used to start, stop, or change the operation of a machine or system a radio control

6 : something that is not treated or exposed to testing in an experiment in order to serve as a comparison to others that have undergone treatment or exposure

control

verb

con·trol | \ kən-ˈtrōl

controlled; controlling

Medical Definition of control

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun

Medical Definition of control (Entry 2 of 2)

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