1
a
: royal authority : sovereignty
under the reign of the Stuart kings
b
: the dominion, sway, or influence of one resembling a monarch
the reign of the Puritan ministers
2
: the time during which someone (such as a sovereign) reigns
reigned; reigning; reigns
1
a
: to possess or exercise sovereign power : rule
b
: to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power
in England the sovereign reigns but does not rule
2
: to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
3
: to be predominant or prevalent
chaos reigned in the classroom
Examples of reign in a Sentence
Noun
She was a popular ruler throughout her reign.
the reign of Queen Elizabeth
his reign as department chairperson
her reign as team president
his reign as heavyweight boxing champion
the reign of digital technology
Verb
The king reigned in a time of peace and prosperity.
The lion reigns as king of the jungle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Original Idol Kelly Clarkson continues her reign as a TV host and recording artist, while Carrie Underwood—now a judge on the show—remains one of country music's top-selling artists.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 22 May 2025
The Knicks benefited from some luck in their second-round victory over the reigning champs.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reign
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Noun
The original building was destroyed in 1853, during the Xianfeng Emperor's reign of the Qing Dynasty.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Original Idol Kelly Clarkson continues her reign as a TV host and recording artist, while Carrie Underwood—now a judge on the show—remains one of country music's top-selling artists.
—Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
Verb
On Tuesday night specifically, at least three players, none of whom were around last season, played crucial roles in beating the reigning champions to take a 1-0 series lead.
—Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 22 May 2025
The Knicks benefited from some luck in their second-round victory over the reigning champs.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for reign
Cite this Entry
“Reign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reign. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reign
1 of 2 noun1
: the authority or rule of a monarch
2
: the time during which a monarch reigns
reign
2 of 2 verb1
: to govern as a monarch
2
: to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
3
: to be usual or widespread
silence reigned
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