regulate

verb

reg·​u·​late ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 

also ˈrā-

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

regulative

ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv 

also ˈrā-

adjective

regulatory

ˈre-gyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

also ˈrā-

adjective

Synonyms of regulate

• control
• contain
• curb
• restrain
• keep
• measure
• govern
• suppress
• stifle

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

Unlike conventional sports books, which operate on the basis of licenses issued by states, Kalshi and Polymarket argue they are exclusively regulated at a federal level by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026

Sanders and Casar’s proposal would therefore shift the question from how to regulate superintelligence to whether the United States should permit its development at all. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

The debate reflected a broader disagreement over how far the city should go in regulating electric bikes and motorcycles. — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 23 Sep. 2026

Even though the practice is strictly regulated in Indonesia, Stewart learned that some fishers will break federal regulations (such as laws protecting threatened species like whale sharks) when faced with the lack of alternative income options. — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing regulate

• re-regulate
• self-regulate

Rhymes for regulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids 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

-ˌlāt-ər

noun

regulatory

-lə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

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

regulatory

-lə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- 

adjective

Legal Definition

regulate

transitive verb

reg·​u·​late

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