1
as in rules
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 regulates
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 operates
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of governs
The sprawling facility is the nucleus for much of the US Air Force’s operations in the Middle East, and US Central Command, which governs American operations in the region, would view any unidentified incoming aircraft as a potential threat.
—
Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Carlson pressed him on what moral framework governs those decisions.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Gravity governs not only our lives, but also the fate of the whole solar system and, by extension, the whole universe.
—Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
His order cites Ohio law that governs criminal procedure.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2025
In its world, resurrected mammoths roam, AI governs underground facilities, and human-animal hybrids embody both triumph and ambiguity.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Kate is a patron of the Rugby Football Union in England, while William serves as the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, which governs the game in Wales.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The novel is set in Oceania, a geographical entity covering North America and the British Isles and which governs much of the Global South.
—Laura Beers, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025
Turkey controls the Black Sea’s gates—the Bosporus and the Dardanelles—under the Montreux Convention, which governs passages through the Turkish straits in and out of the Black Sea.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Carlson pressed him on what moral framework governs those decisions.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Gravity governs not only our lives, but also the fate of the whole solar system and, by extension, the whole universe.
—Big Think, 9 Sep. 2025
His order cites Ohio law that governs criminal procedure.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2025
In its world, resurrected mammoths roam, AI governs underground facilities, and human-animal hybrids embody both triumph and ambiguity.
—Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Kate is a patron of the Rugby Football Union in England, while William serves as the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, which governs the game in Wales.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The novel is set in Oceania, a geographical entity covering North America and the British Isles and which governs much of the Global South.
—Laura Beers, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025
Turkey controls the Black Sea’s gates—the Bosporus and the Dardanelles—under the Montreux Convention, which governs passages through the Turkish straits in and out of the Black Sea.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for governs
Verb
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Once again, rumore rules over all, to the amusement of the diners.—
Jonathan Hawkins,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
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In a rare move, the panel in Atlanta also voted 2-1 to stop the environmental groups’ case from proceeding in Miami federal court until the appeals court rules on the merits of the state’s request to lift the judge’s injunction.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By using pollen to reflect more of the energy, the camellia microgel regulates skin temperature, keeping it about 9 degrees Fahrenheit cooler for around 20 minutes.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
4 Sep. 2025
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Schultz, a medical doctor, has helped run the agency that regulates the county’s emergency medical care system for about six years.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The film operates under the Primetime banner, neurodivergent actor-producer Victoria Emslie’s platform dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices across disability, gender, global majority and sexuality spectrums.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
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Build a team that operates without you.—
Guy Peixoto,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The First 70 Years contains impeccable research and analysis, accompanied by fascinating photos of the sets, film crews, and casts.—
Michael Taube,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The system contains unverified reports of side effects, including from patients, doctors and pharmacists.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In this photo, mama, who liked posing for the camera, supervises her litter of kittens.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Cucinelli supervises the company’s image and communication, especially through social platforms, and has greatly contributed to reach out to the younger generations.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Uniquely, Google controls both its hardware and software, unlike all other Android OEMs including Samsung, the largest of them all.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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History is also on their side because the party that controls the White House has nearly always lost House seats in the midterm elections going back to 1938.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Kansas City Election Board, which oversees voting within Kansas City limits, will receive about $900,000 from the general fund in the Jackson County budget about three weeks before the election, Ealom and KCEB Republican Director Shawn Kieffer said.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
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Newell oversees no annual fund-raising pushes, leads no searches for public money or corporate underwriting grants.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The strategy keeps more resources available in the short term than if the buyer had paid for the home in full up front.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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The elevated surface also keeps your pet off the ground, which can be ideal for keeping them clean while outside.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Governs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/governs. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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