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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of govern
In the year 2120, the Earth is governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold.
—
Lauren Coates, Variety, 5 June 2025
However, federal courts aren’t governed by that state law passed in 2020.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 5 June 2025
What is the current state of mining? Amon: Mining in international waters is governed by the International Seabed Authority, an autonomous United Nations authority.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 5 June 2025
Those organizations want to police themselves, and have gone so far as to have a meeting earlier this year to lay down the rules to the NCAA at how that organization will govern those two top leagues.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Lauren Coates, Variety, 5 June 2025
However, federal courts aren’t governed by that state law passed in 2020.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 5 June 2025
What is the current state of mining? Amon: Mining in international waters is governed by the International Seabed Authority, an autonomous United Nations authority.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 5 June 2025
Those organizations want to police themselves, and have gone so far as to have a meeting earlier this year to lay down the rules to the NCAA at how that organization will govern those two top leagues.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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In Alabama, after the state's Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people, the state legislature had to step in to allow fertility clinics to continue their work.—
Jess Mador,
NPR,
7 June 2025
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The District Court for the District of South Carolina had ruled in favor of the NAACP following the organization's claims of racial gerrymandering involving South Carolina's 1st Congressional District on the state's coast.—
Alex Thomas,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
Verb
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The team worked quickly to regulate his blood glucose, rehydrate him, and start him on antibiotics—just in time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
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Using the large-scale health research database UK Biobank, the researchers examined data from individuals with rare variants in the genes regulating SCFA-binding receptors and compared their cardiovascular medical history to that of control individuals.—
Paul McClure
June 01,
New Atlas,
1 June 2025
Verb
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Kieran manages to survive, and Sean is finally held accountable and arrested for the deaths of Gabby Birch and Bronte Laidler.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Rehrig will manage editorial direction, story development and day-to-day production.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Asos sold the majority stake in the business for $178 million to the Danish fashion business controlled by the major Asos shareholder Anders Povlsen, who already owns popular European retail brands including Jack & Jones and Vero Moda via his Bestseller business.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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But in other matches, such as recent defeats to Bay FC and Racing Louisville, Angel City has faltered — often losing despite controlling possession.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
Verb
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Yet even this minor film contains major pleasures, including Mia Threapleton’s whipcrack deadpan as Zsa-Zsa’s estranged daughter, a daffy Michael Cera as a Norwegian entomologist, and gorgeous evocation of a fictitious yet allusive Middle East.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
7 June 2025
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The dust from Worlds Collide will have to settle quickly as the attention will turn to Money in the Bank as six men and six women, respectively, will look to grab the briefcase which contains a contract for a world title shot anytime, anywhere.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2025
Verb
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The nonprofit operates the Bullet Related Injury Clinic, dubbed the BRIC, which provides free treatment for physical and mental injuries caused by bullets.—
Bram Sable-Smith,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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Specific programs targeted for elimination include the Mars Sample Return mission, the currently operating Mars Odyssey and MAVEN missions around Mars, and several missions to Venus.—
Wendy Whitman Cobb,
The Conversation,
3 June 2025
Verb
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If that kind of freaks you out, keep this in mind: The right diet can have a positive impact on aging—and that includes the aging brain.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
3 June 2025
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The deceptively simple secret to this prolific output that keeps Caamp (in addition to Sumbuck, his solo side project) awash in deeply personal, bittersweet vignettes?—
Janine Schaults,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
Verb
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A week later, Qasem Hassan learned that the School for Continuing Medical Education in Family Medicine, which oversaw the ethics course, had received a letter from several residents in the class.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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Eventually the archipelago was divided, with the western islands becoming the independent nation of Samoa and the eastern ones becoming American Samoa, overseen by the Navy.—
Mark Thiessen,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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