govern

verb

ˈgə-vərn How to pronounce govern (audio)
Definition of governnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of govern The test will be whether the Student List can transition their popular mobilization in the streets into a viable political option that can win an election and govern a country that hasn’t undergone a political transition in over a decade. — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 According to its governing body, the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA), which was founded in 2000, Nordic walking is now practised in over 40 countries for health, fitness, recreation, social connection, and competitive sport. — Lola Akinmade, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 Some members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition opposed the law, however, and right-wing opposition parties filed petitions to challenge it in court. — Hannah Ridge, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2026 Researchers from competing companies shared their findings in common channels, with no contracts governing the arrangement. — Harry Booth, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
  1. rule
  2. regulate
  3. manage
  4. control
  5. contain
  6. operate
  7. keep
  8. oversee
Verb
  • Quarterback Hayes Hackney had been ruled ineligible Tuesday by the 3-5A Division II District Executive Committee.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • In August 2022, Garza was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to be jailed until a bed in a state mental health treatment facility was available.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of rule
Verb
  • Space companies are regulated primarily by the FCC, which governs technologies used by satellites.
    — Max Harden, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The controversy emphasized how California, where shelters are overflowing with animals, failed to regulate private rescue groups.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of regulate
Verb
  • Union Berlin managed to draw at Augsburg 1-1 after a player from each was sent off in separate incidents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The winner will gain one of five seats on the board that runs the highway district, which is responsible for building, managing and maintaining local roads and bridges countywide — as well as setting ACHD’s nearly $260 million annual budget.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of manage
Verb
  • In her latest book, Harvard historian Jill Lepore argues that Big Tech now controls the United States—and, by extension, the entire planet.
    — Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • He was angered when the team's controlling owner moved the team to Atlanta for the 1966 season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Verb
  • Separating two magnetic signals Atoms contain several sources of magnetism, including the spins of their electrons and, in some cases, their nuclei.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • These books contained everything from meeting minutes to school budgets and lists of political candidates.
    — Jennifer Rich, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • But there are actual terrifying objects in space, entities operating on a scale that crush our minds and reduce our human experience to a mote of dust floating in the dark.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Military bases would need reliable fuel distribution, water treatment, secure communications, functioning maintenance systems and personnel capable of operating under emergency conditions.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of operate
Verb
  • The combination would allow the aircraft to launch a high-speed weapon against targets from considerable distances, keeping the launch platform away from some threats.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • If the Fed keeps rates on hold, Warsh will be pushed to explain why the central bank hiked in September but not this month.
    — Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Sanders, the Vermont socialist and two-time presidential candidate, is likely to chair the Senate panel responsible for overseeing labor, education, and healthcare next year if Democrats reclaim the chamber.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • But the Chicago Board of Education oversees a $10 billion budget, larger than many big cities, along with aging buildings, ballooning debt and shrinking enrollment.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of oversee

Browse Nearby Words

gourmets
govern
governable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of reticent

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All