regulate
verb
reg·u·late
ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 
also ˈrā-
regulated; regulating
1
a
: 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
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
Rahman defines skin longevity as having optimal functioning of the integumentary system, which encompasses the skin, hair, and nails, and is responsible for regulating key functions like body temperature and Vitamin D synthesis.
—
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
The law applies to any company operating in California that uses massive amounts of computing power for model training, a threshold designed to regulate only cutting-edge developers while exempting smaller firms.
—Harry Booth, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld reports that several justices were skeptical of Colorado’s argument that the ban only regulates professional conduct.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
Chief Justice John Roberts appeared similarly skeptical of the Colorado law, and of Stevenson’s arguments that counselors’ speech should be regulated as professional conduct.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regulate
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Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025
The law applies to any company operating in California that uses massive amounts of computing power for model training, a threshold designed to regulate only cutting-edge developers while exempting smaller firms.
—Harry Booth, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld reports that several justices were skeptical of Colorado’s argument that the ban only regulates professional conduct.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 8 Oct. 2025
Chief Justice John Roberts appeared similarly skeptical of the Colorado law, and of Stevenson’s arguments that counselors’ speech should be regulated as professional conduct.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for regulate
Cite this Entry
“Regulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regulate. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
regulate
verb
reg·u·late
ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt
regulated; regulating
1
a
: to govern or direct according to rule
b
: to bring under the control of authority
regulate prices
2
: to bring order or method to
regulate one's habits
3
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
regulate the pressure of a tire
the brain regulates the heartbeat
regulator
noun
-ˌlāt-ər
Etymology
from Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare "to regulate, direct," from regula "a rule, straightedge" — related to rail entry 1, regent, rule
Medical Definition
regulate
transitive verb
reg·u·late
ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt
regulated; regulating
1
: to control or direct according to rule or law
regulate the testing of experimental drugs
2
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
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