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

• 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

Last week, the Senate approved the stablecoin bill, establishing a framework to regulate these digital currencies that are linked to the U.S. dollar. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Clouds play an important role in regulating the climate. —Max G. Levy, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025

But the parliamentarian did allow Republicans to keep a 10-year moratorium on state laws regulating artificial intelligence. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 June 2025

But there are rules that regulate what can be put into the bill. —Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 23 June 2025

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
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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