1
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over
the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls
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Relevance
2
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of govern
In the order of operations that now governs Silicon Valley — and increasingly the world — speed to success was the only metric that mattered.
—
Big Think, 1 May 2026
The league’s collective bargaining agreement strictly governs rookie contracts, from structure to value.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Management and labor negotiate collective bargaining agreements that govern wages and working conditions and are immune from antitrust scrutiny.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Each of the cities are located in and governed by the Yamunanagar district, which was carved out of Ambala in 1989.
—Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Big Think, 1 May 2026
The league’s collective bargaining agreement strictly governs rookie contracts, from structure to value.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Management and labor negotiate collective bargaining agreements that govern wages and working conditions and are immune from antitrust scrutiny.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Each of the cities are located in and governed by the Yamunanagar district, which was carved out of Ambala in 1989.
—Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
-
That 2024 decision sidestepped the core issues, however, by ruling that the antiabortion doctors behind the case didn’t have legal standing to sue.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
Louisiana appealed the decision to the Fifth Circuit, which ruled Friday in its favor.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
This depth helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature without restricting airflow.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
The door opened for college athletes to profit from NIL in 2020 after a pair of lawsuits favored Division 1 athletes and the NCAA began regulating it.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The casting has always managed to feel diverse, but in a guileless, incidental way, giving the appearance of multicultural inclusion without espousing any explicitly progressive viewpoints.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Bruins managed to keep it tight through the end of the first, with the Sabres taking that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Carly is cool, calm, controlled, and precise.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Yura’s nemeses, who are part of her elderly father’s underwater court, seem to be after her magical flute, an ancient device that controls their kingdom’s dragon.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Still, even as the memes become borderline unintelligible, Kirkslop contains an air of transgression that imbues the otherwise inane edits and images with perverse political undercurrents.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The group contains multiple doctors and lawyers.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pau’s videos, operating both as personal diaries and layered social commentaries, reflect a territorial condition mired in uncertainty.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
The carrier failed to secure a financial lifeline to continue operating, ending the discount air travel pioneer’s time in the sky, costing some 17,000 jobs and thousands of cheap flights in the market.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Though the start of the pandemic soon after halted her momentum, DeVaux kept at it, eventually taking the Breeder’s Cup in 2024.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
-
Your ability to adapt keeps the energy alive.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Chuck Paterakis, who oversees transportation for Schmidt Bakery, said the driver was transporting products from the company when the incident occurred.—
Jay Blackman,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
-
Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert, whose staff oversees the cases of more than 600 adults under guardianship and has helped champion the bill, said face-to-face meetings are standard practice in his office prior to appointment and are crucial to properly assessing the person’s needs.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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