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
Synonyms of reign
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
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
According to nutrition experts, pumpkin pie reigns supreme.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 26 Nov. 2025
Sophie Bates, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025
The family's fate changed when King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 and his younger brother acceded to the throne, putting the firstborn Princess Elizabeth on the path to reign one day.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reign
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
While the full lineup of veterans is known for their championship reigns and main-event experience, the opposing team also features a rising star, Lash Legend, who will be competing in her first WarGames match and only her second WWE Premium Live Event.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
According to nutrition experts, pumpkin pie reigns supreme.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 26 Nov. 2025
Verb
With limited access to sweet potatoes in the North, pumpkin likely reigned supreme.
—Sophie Bates, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2025
The family's fate changed when King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 and his younger brother acceded to the throne, putting the firstborn Princess Elizabeth on the path to reign one day.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 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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