self-regulate

verb

self-reg·​u·​late ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 

also -ˈrā-

self-regulated; self-regulating; self-regulates

1

intransitive : to regulate oneself or itself

allowing markets to self-regulate

… noted the overwhelming lack of public trust in the financial services industry's ability to self-regulate effectively …

—Sally Rose

The idea is that the kids learn how to manage and self-regulate.

—Cheyenne Derksen Schroeder

2

transitive : to control or govern (something) for or by oneself

… was hired by the motion picture industry to head up a new body to self-regulate the movies.

—Katharine Monk

the ability of the child to self-regulate her behavior

… a horse who is permitted to self-regulate his intake will eat only what his body needs.

—Juliet M. Getty

self-regulative

ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv 

also -ˈrā-

adjective

self-regulative processes

Examples of self-regulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The industry remains effectively self-regulated, however. —Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026

The classic neoliberal idea of a self-regulating market that operates independently of the state was always a fiction—what’s significant is that fewer people are trying to prop up the lie anymore. —Suzanne Schneider, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2026

But parents have evolved in methods for dealing with kids' big emotions, and now focus on teaching them how to self-regulate. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026

That’s because somatic shaking could in some instances trigger flashbacks, intensify panic, or overwhelm someone’s capacity to self-regulate, Erez says. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for self-regulate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate