rein

noun \ ˈrān \

Definition of rein

1 :a strap fastened to a bit by which a rider or driver controls an animal —usually used in plural

2 a :a restraining influence :check

kept a tight rein on the proceedings

b :controlling or guiding power —usually used in plural

the reins of government

3 :opportunity for unhampered activity or use

gave full rein to her imagination

See rein defined for English-language learners

See rein defined for kids

Examples of rein in a Sentence

He has people working for him, but he has a tight rein on every part of the process.
after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company

Recent Examples of rein from the Web

But Mr. Netanyahu has not been given totally free rein on settlement building, and Mr. Trump’s election promise of moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv remains unfulfilled.

— isabel kershner, New York Times, "As Investigations Intensify, Israel Imagines Life After Netanyahu," 8 Aug. 2017
Before the start of the 2015-2016 school year, the district cut 15 employees, including eight teachers, to help head off a $1 million-plus deficit and the possibility of the state taking over the district’s financial reins.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Students to return to new and improved Bethel-Tate schools," 8 Aug. 2017
John Thompson took the reins of the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2013 with orders from Congress to dramatically lower the projected cost of the 2020 decennial census.

— jeffrey mervis, Science | AAAS, "Money, politics, and the 2020 Census," 24 July 2017
Mr. Johnson, a prominent South Carolina banker, took the club’s reins as chairman in 1998, succeeding Clifford Roberts, a founder of the club and the Masters in the early 1930s with the famed golfer Bobby Jones.

— richard goldstein, New York Times, "Hootie Johnson, Who Opposed Letting Women Into Augusta National, Dies at 86," 16 July 2017
Lindsey will have full control of the offense, as Malzahn has taken a step back and handed over the reins to his new right-hand man, retiring his clipboard in the process.

— tom green, AL.com, "Auburn MVP 10: New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is No. 2," 6 July 2017
Show-runners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg are citing Game of Thrones as an inspiration in feeling free rein to kill off . . .

— laura bradley, HWD, "How Game of Thrones Inspired Star Trek: Discovery," 30 June 2017
Francis appointed Pell in 2014 to a five-year term to head the Vatican's new economy secretariat, giving him broad rein to control all economic, administrative, personnel and procurement functions of the Holy See.

— Bloomberg.com, "Australian Police Charge Top Vatican Cardinal With Historical Sex Offenses," 29 June 2017
A room of White men just pulled the reins of health care tighter without input from women, minorities, sick or disabled Americans.

— midwin charles, Essence.com, "6 Devastating Ways The Senate Health Care Bill Will Affect Black Women," 24 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rein.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of rein

Origin and Etymology of rein

Middle English reine, from Anglo-French resne, reine, from Vulgar Latin *retina, from Latin retinēre to restrain — more at retain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

rein Synonyms

Synonyms

chair, driver's seat, headship, helm, rein (s)

Antonyms

impotence, impotency, powerlessness

Near Antonyms

ranks

Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack

rein

verb

Definition of rein

transitive verb

1 :to control or direct with or as if with reins

2 :to check or stop by or as if by a pull at the reins

reined in her horse

couldn't rein his impatience

intransitive verb

1 archaic :to submit to the use of reins

2 :to stop or slow up one's horse or oneself by or as if by pulling the reins

See rein defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of rein from the Web

In May, Sessions reversed an effort from the Obama-era Justice Department that called on federal prosecutors to rein in the use of long, mandatory minimum sentences for some drug criminals to focus resources elsewhere.

— ivan moreno, chicagotribune.com, "Sessions: Drug overdoses are 'the top lethal issue' in the U.S.," 29 Aug. 2017
Some blamed the lead producer, Howard Kagan, a hard-charging hedge fund veteran, for failing to rein in costs or to plan effectively.

— michael paulson, New York Times, "Race, Money and Broadway: How ‘Great Comet’ Burned Out," 29 Aug. 2017
Sitz and his partner Daniel Marier sold their practice to the Praxis Medical Group three years ago as a way to rein in costs and get better bargaining power with insurance companies.

— kathy aney, The Seattle Times, "Rural America seeks more doctors," 26 Aug. 2017
However, YouTube’s changes have been in the works for months in response to pressure from both advertisers and governments to rein in messages that promote hate or incite violence.

— david z. morris, Fortune, "YouTube Begins Quarantine of Hate Videos," 25 Aug. 2017
The clubs have gotten better as the players have been unleashed after many were reined in to start the year, especially at the lower levels.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "After being reined in early, Rangers’ minor-leaguers taking off," 4 Aug. 2017
The politicians were quoted as warning the generals that Pakistan risked diplomatic isolation if the army did not rein in specific extremist groups.

— The Economist, "The pushmi-pullyuWhat makes Pakistan so unfathomable," 22 July 2017
This latest in-your-face provocation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came after President Donald Trump had signaled that his strategy for reining in the North—relying on China to use its clout with the Pyongyang regime—had failed.

— bill powell, MSNBC Newsweek, "Will Trump Stop the 10 Chinese Companies Supplying North Korea's Nuclear Program?," 13 July 2017
Again, at times, Peters has had to be reined in with his dedication.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Alec Peters developed broadly during Valparaiso career to prepare for NBA draft," 10 July 2017

First Known Use of rein

15th century

REIN Defined for English Language Learners

rein

noun

Definition of rein for English Language Learners

: a strap that is fastened to a device (called a bridle) placed on the head of an animal (such as a horse) and that is used to guide and control the animal
: the ability to limit or control something
: the power to guide or control someone or something