regulate

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

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 \-ˌlā-tiv\ adjective

—

regulatory

play \-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ 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

Our constitutional structure does not permit Congress to regulate interstate commerce in that manner.

— wayne parry, The Seattle Times, "New Jersey to US Supreme Court: Strike down sports bet ban," 29 Aug. 2017
The film industry issues its own extensive, though nonbinding, series of bulletins to regulate safety.

— sophie haigney, New York Times, "Amid ‘Gung-Ho Mentality,’ Stunt Deaths Renew a Debate Over Safety," 29 Aug. 2017
Following the death of 5-year-old Mobile boy Kamden Johnson, the Mobile City Council is considering a call for state legislation to regulate child care facilities.

— lawrence specker, AL.com, "Following Kamden Johnson death, Mobile council considers call for state child-care regulation," 29 Aug. 2017
Researchers found that when presented with images of high-fat foods like cake, a part of the brain that regulates appetite and impulse control — the insula — was activated.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "Study: Walnuts Rewire Your Brain to Stop You From Pigging Out," 18 Aug. 2017
The helmet could have helped Corythoraptor regulate its body temperature, spaces inside the crest helping to dissipate heat.

— brian switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "Paleo Profile: The Crested Thief," 4 Aug. 2017
The skunk population continues to increase at a quick pace, benefiting from warmer winters, the economic turnaround and the waning of diseases that would normally regulate the numbers, wildlife experts say.

— ronnie wachter, Naperville Sun, "Skunk population increase raising a stink around town," 1 Aug. 2017
The data reflects releases of oil and wastewater at locations such as well sites and storage tanks, and does not include spills from interstate pipelines, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Made in the USA, Baby," 27 July 2017
Disruption on a gene for a protein called GIF21, which regulates the activity of other genes, was associated with the most social dogs.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "What makes dogs so friendly? Study finds genetic link to super-outgoing people," 19 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

regulate Synonyms

Synonyms

bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, control, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Antonyms

lose

Related Words

bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow; arrest, interrupt, stop; block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct; gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms

liberate, loose, loosen, unleash; air, express, take out, vent

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

REGULATE Defined for English Language Learners

regulate

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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

play

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.

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regulator

\-ˌlā-tər\ noun

Medical Dictionary

regulate

play

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

See words that rhyme with regulate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for regulate Spanish Central: Translation of regulate Nglish: Translation of regulate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of regulate for Arabic speakers

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Examples of regulate in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of regulate

regulate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

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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