regulate

verb reg·u·late \ ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt also ˈrā- \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Examples: regulate in a Sentence

Definition of regulate

regulated; regulating

transitive verb

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

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regulative

play \ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv also ˈrā-\ adjective

—

regulatory

play \ˈre-gyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē also ˈrā-\ adjective

See regulate defined for English-language learners

See regulate defined for kids

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 of regulate from the Web

Clayton has previously said that the majority of ICOs should be registered with the agency because the coins trade on secondary markets like other securities the SEC regulates.

— polina marinova, Fortune, "SEC Appoints New Crypto Chief to Oversee Digital Assets and ICOs," 5 June 2018
They are given temporary protection status with limited rights, including regulated access to the labour market.

— allie morris, Houston Chronicle, "Report: An estimated 4.3 million Texan workers don’t have access to paid sick leave," 5 June 2018
Ten days after de León pledged to co-sponsor a bill to legalize marijuana nationally, Feinstein changed her hard-line stance against pot and said the federal government should not interfere in California’s regulated marketplace.

— taryn luna, sacbee, "Number two spot in U.S. Senate race up for grabs," 5 June 2018
Still, some states continue to nurture influential policies — particularly California, which has set new standards for vehicle emissions, electronic waste, interstate child support, and regulating credit agencies.

— evan horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, "Massachusetts was a policy trailblazer. Not anymore.," 4 June 2018
The authority regulates exploration and mining activity in the Clipperton zone and has partitioned mining rights to various nations, including DeepGreen's partner, the island nation of Nauru.

— eric niiler, WIRED, "The Race to Send Robots to Mine the Ocean Floor," 4 June 2018
Rauner opposes a separate bill to legalize, tax and regulate recreational marijuana.

— robert mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Illinois lawmakers OK medical marijuana as prescription painkiller substitute; bill goes to governor," 4 June 2018
Dave Emme, manager of the agency's drinking water program, said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doesn't yet regulate cyanotoxins, which can take years of testing and analysis.

— molly harbarger, OregonLive.com, "Salem water sees decrease in toxins, while Wilsonville sees increase," 1 June 2018
In fact, Florida law prohibits the department from asking about or regulating academics at these schools.

— leslie postal, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Private schools' curriculum downplays slavery, says humans and dinosaurs lived together," 1 June 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.

Origin and Etymology of regulate

Middle English, from Late Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare, from Latin regula rule

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

regulate Synonyms

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

REGULATE Defined for English Language Learners

regulate

verb

Definition of regulate for English Language Learners

: to set or adjust the amount, degree, or rate of (something)
: to bring (something) under the control of authority
: to make rules or laws that control (something)

REGULATE Defined for Kids

regulate

verb reg·u·late \ ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt \

Definition of regulate for Students

regulated; regulating

1 : to bring under the control of authority : make rules concerning

Laws regulate water quality.

2 : to control the time, amount, degree, or rate of

The dam regulates water flow.

3 : to bring order or method to

The program is regulated well.

—

regulator

\-ˌlā-tər\ noun

Medical Dictionary

regulate

transitive verb reg·u·late \ ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt \

medical Definition of regulate

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

—

regulatory

play \-lə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-\ adjective

Law Dictionary

regulate

transitive verb reg·u·late

legal Definition of regulate

regulated; regulating

1 : to govern or direct according to rule

2 a : to bring under the control of law

b : to make regulations for or concerning

Learn More about regulate

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regulate

Definition of regulate

regulative

regulatory

Examples of regulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of regulate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of regulate

regulate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Related Words

Other Government and Politics Terms

REGULATE Defined for English Language Learners

regulate

Definition of regulate for English Language Learners

REGULATE Defined for Kids

regulate

Definition of regulate for Students

regulator

Medical Dictionary

regulate

medical Definition of regulate

regulatory

Law Dictionary

regulate

legal Definition of regulate

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