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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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
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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
However, he’s placed his support behind updates to the federal law that governs employee-stock ownership plans.
—
Ian Thomas, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
There's laws that govern how federal funds are used because they're used for important things like research.
—Destinee Adams, NPR, 16 Apr. 2025
Instinctually, Trump would like to govern like this.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
In 2016, motorsport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), introduced a minimum age of 18 in F1, though the rules have since been adjusted, allowing 17-year-olds to apply for an FIA Super Licence, which the FIA will issue at its discretion.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Ian Thomas, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
There's laws that govern how federal funds are used because they're used for important things like research.
—Destinee Adams, NPR, 16 Apr. 2025
Instinctually, Trump would like to govern like this.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
In 2016, motorsport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), introduced a minimum age of 18 in F1, though the rules have since been adjusted, allowing 17-year-olds to apply for an FIA Super Licence, which the FIA will issue at its discretion.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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Beverly Cannone, the Norfolk County judge presiding in the case, ruled in January that Dr. Marie Russell, an emergency room physician, can testify in Read's second trial that marks on O'Keefe's arm were dog bites, not caused by being hit by an SUV.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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In the 20th century, state courts have ruled that the doctrine bars states and local governments from selling off lakefront property or harbors to private owners and protects public access to beaches, lakes and oceans.—
Alexandra Klass,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Its double-sided design keeps your body temperature regulated all night long, with one side made of cool gel memory and the other of breathable bamboo viscose.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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The panelists agreed that a focused, narrow bill regulating stablecoins could help cement the U.S. dollar’s dominance in a digital future.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The two brands managed just 917,598 sales in 2024, versus 1,343,959 in 2019, according to S&P Global Mobility.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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In the one and only trial run, conducted in 1987, emergency squads managed to erect only a fraction of the necessary infrastructure.—
Jessi Jezewska Stevens,
The Dial,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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With McDavid on the ice, the Oilers are controlling 69 percent of chances at even strength.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Instead, Merz says, HPV probably increases the risk of heart disease by causing inflammation, which occurs as the immune system attempts to control the virus.—
Liz Szabo,
Scientific American,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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So Koester compiled a database that now contains more than 500,000 missing person searches dating back to the 1970s.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Summary The gut microbiome contains many microorganisms.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The Federal Reserve operates independently when setting short-term rates and does not take direction from Congress, the president or political campaigns.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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That's useful because hydro plants need very little in the way of an external power supply to start operating.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The aviation industry expects the exemption to help companies keep costs down during a sharp pullback in travel spending by consumers worried about slower economic growth and higher inflation.—
Rajesh Kumar Singh,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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There is plenty to keep the Forest faithful enthused until the end of the season.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The judge overseeing the trial found last year that Google has a monopoly in online search and related advertising.—
Jody Godoy,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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Pietro Parolin The current secretary of state for the Holy See, Parolin is an experienced Italian diplomat who has helped oversee the Vatican's internal affairs but also worked on behalf of the Catholic Church around the world in countries from Venezuela to Vietnam.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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