regulate

verb

reg·u·late | \ ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt also ˈrā-

regulated; regulating

Definition of regulate

transitive verb

1a : to govern or direct according to rule

b(1) : to bring under the control of law or constituted authority

(2) : to make regulations for or concerning regulate the industries of a country

2 : to bring order, method, or uniformity to regulate one's habits

3 : to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of regulate the pressure of a tire

Other Words from regulate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about regulate

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Other Words from regulate

regulative \ ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv

also ˈrā- \ adjective

regulatory \ ˈre-gyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē

also ˈrā- \ adjective

Examples of regulate in a Sentence

The dam regulates the flow of water into the river. We need better laws to regulate the content of the Internet. Laws have been made to regulate working conditions. The government regulates how much lead may be found in our water supply. The department regulates foreign trade.

Recent Examples on the Web

Takes Tom Friedman says regulating the big tech platforms should be a central issue of the 2020 presidential campaign: Just one person — Mark Zuckerberg — controls Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. — Casey Newton, The Verge, "How Kevin Hart tweeted himself out of a job hosting the Oscars," 8 Dec. 2018 According to the National Kidney Foundation, the kidneys work to eliminate waste from the body and regulate our fluids — in other words, they get rid of the bad stuff. — Brittney Mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "Detox Diets Aren't Real or Healthy — and Body "Toxins" Don't Exist," 1 Jan. 2019 In addition to regulating your menstrual cycle, estrogen helps to promote vaginal lubrication, the Mayo Clinic says. — Rachel Jacoby Zoldan, SELF, "14 Benefits of Female Masturbation and Why Every Woman Should Do It," 31 Dec. 2018 In August, Cuomo set up a working group to write a legalization bill that implements recommendations from the state Department of Health to legalize and regulate cannabis. — German Lopez, Vox, "New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo just made marijuana legalization a top priority," 17 Dec. 2018 China’s state media is heavily censored and regulated. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "A Chinese Military Official Suggests Ramming U.S. Warships in the South China Sea," 10 Dec. 2018 These hypoallergenic, disposable earplugs naturally filter and regulate air pressure, which should help relieve discomfort. — Brian Sumers, Condé Nast Traveler, "How to Pop Your Ears on a Plane—And Why They Pop, Anyway," 10 Sep. 2018 Aside from helping the body process fats and sugars, oral biotin is important for regulating hair and nail growth. — Allure, "The Skin-Care Glossary: A Comprehensive Guide to Everything You Need to Know," 17 Aug. 2018 Estrogen plays a role in regulating mood, sleep, and your overall sense of well-being, and levels of this hormone start fluctuating during perimenopause. — Sarah Richards, Woman's Day, "Quiet Your Mind in Anxious Times With These Expert Tricks," 14 Aug. 2018

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