govern

verb

gov·​ern ˈgə-vərn 

governed; governing; governs

transitive verb

1

a

: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over

especially : to control and direct the making and administration of policy in

The country was governed by a king.

b

: to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy

a nation governed by the monarch's advisors

c

: to determine rules for and handle administration of (an organization, group, etc.)

the body that governs the sport internationally

d

: to control legal procedure for (an action, practice, process, etc.)

laws that govern the sale of alcohol

2

a

archaic : manipulate

b

: to control the speed of (a machine) especially by automatic means

3

a

: to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of

Do not let fear govern your life.

… forces that govern phenomena on both the large scale (the realm of the galaxies) and on the small scale (the realm of the atom) …

—Allan Sandage

b

: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over

Your income must govern your spending.

c

: to hold in check : restrain

I governed my emotions.

4

: to require (a word) to be in a certain case

5

: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for

customs that govern human decisions

a case that governs

intransitive verb

1

: to prevail or have decisive influence : control

In all situations allow reason to govern.

If contractual language is clear and explicit, it governs.

—Bank of the West v. Superior Court, 833 P.2d 545 (1992)

2

: to exercise authority

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least" …

—Henry David Thoreau

governable

ˈgə-vər-nə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of govern

• rule
• control

Examples of govern in a Sentence

The tribe is governed by a 10-member council.

They want to form their own country and govern themselves.

The scandal limited her ability to govern effectively.

How would he govern if he were elected president?

She suggested changing the state's laws governing the sale of alcohol.

The council governs fishing in the region.

We will be studying the forces that govern the Earth's climate.

Tradition governs all aspects of their lives.

He allows himself to be governed by his emotions.

Recent Examples on the Web

The sport’s governing body didn’t respond by investigating what Semple did to Switzer. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

How Cabarrus became a legal battleground Cabarrus County Schools does not have a separate policy governing transgender students’ bathroom access. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026

According to testimony by Leah Barros on behalf of the California Hospital Association, the bill would group private detention facilities with licensed behavioral health facilities already governed by strict state guidelines. — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

The border between New York State and Ontario runs underneath the middle of the giant lake, with each entity governing their portion of the lakebed and shoreline. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French governer, from Latin gubernare to steer, govern, from Greek kybernan

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

govern

verb

gov·​ern ˈgəv-ərn 

1

: to exercise authority over : rule

the queen governed wisely

2

: to control the speed of by automatic means

3

a

: to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of

governed by his emotions

b

: to hold in check : restrain

our income governs our spending

4

: to require a word to be in a certain case or mood

in English a transitive verb governs a pronoun in the objective case

5

: to serve as a rule or law for

etiquette governing their behavior

governable

-ər-nə-bəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

govern

transitive verb

gov·​ern ˈgə-vərn 

1

: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over

especially : to control and direct the administration of policy in

2

: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over

the testator's assets are governed by will substitutes

—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.

3

: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for

the law governing bills of lading

United States v. Leon governs the case at bar

governable

ˈgə-vər-nə-bəl 

adjective