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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Plants spread by rhizomatous roots and can be divided every three to five years to produce new plants or reign in growth.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
The Rams, with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, take a quarterback.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reign
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Noun
Food and drink An all-are-welcome atmosphere, inspired by Cretan home kitchens, reigns at restaurant Anemoia, which sits at Tella Thera’s heart, both geographically and in spirit.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Plants spread by rhizomatous roots and can be divided every three to five years to produce new plants or reign in growth.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Then the Los Angeles Rams selected quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall as an eventual successor to Matthew Stafford, the reigning league MVP who’s 38 and entering his 18th season.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
The Rams, with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, take a quarterback.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reign
Cite this Entry
“Reign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reign. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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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