rein 1 of 2

noun

ˈrān How to pronounce rein (audio)
Definition of reinnext
1
as in helm
usually reins plural the place of leadership or command after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restriction
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries the oversight committee called on the state to keep a much tighter rein on the activities of its contractors

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3
as in power
usually reins plural the right or means to command or control others a peaceful transfer of the reins of government has always been a hallmark of our nation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rein

2 of 2

verb

as in to restrain

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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 rein
Noun
After Jonathan India underwent shoulder surgery, the Royals handed the keystone reins to Michael Massey and Nick Loftin. — Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 Schenn and Foligno were aging veterans who were called upon to lead teams in transition, but Hughes and Tkachuk actively sought greener pastures after receiving the reins as young stars in their markets. — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Verb
That partnership, along with The Jeffrey, comes as volume on sports contracts continue to rein against other categories. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 3 June 2026 And then trying to find the physicality of that, and how far to push it, and how far to rein it in, and that balance, that sort of tightrope. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rein
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rein
  1. helm
  2. restriction
  3. power
  4. restrain
  5. chair
  6. limitation
  7. curb
  8. constrain
Noun
  • In his second meeting at the Fed's helm, Chairman Kevin Warsh reiterated his commitment to bringing down inflation but declined to spell out what would lead him to vote to raise rates.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 30 July 2026
  • There’s plenty of carbon fiber to be found, too, like in the helm and throughout the cabins.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 July 2026
Definition of helm
Noun
  • Nonprofit experts told the Herald/Times earlier this year that the foundation’s actions could jeopardize its tax-exempt status because of the strict restrictions on how nonprofits can engage in politics or lobbying.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • In 2022, when the bank started requiring employees to return to the office as COVID-era restrictions eased, Arbuckle requested to continue working from home instead of commuting to uptown Charlotte.
    — Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • Xi came to power after the 2008 protests in Tibet and deadly unrest in Xinjiang, another frontier region of modern China where ethnic minorities have long chafed under Beijing’s rule and witnessed a huge security crackdown.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Ultimately, both sides are jockeying for power after the war, given the unusual uncertainty brought on by the change in the supreme leadership.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • Gulf states push China to restrain Iran Gulf states are pushing for China to rein in Iran as doubts grow about the US’ ability to end the five-month conflict.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Jor’Dell Richardson was lying face up on the ground with two officers restraining at least one of his hands when another officer shot him in the stomach.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of restrain
Noun
  • The hard-hitting match made use of a table, chairs, steel steps and a ring mat, but not the cell.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Outside, the striped umbrellas and wicker bistro chairs on the sidewalk terrazzo are an easy invitation to aperitivo and small bites like truffle arancini.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of chair
Noun
  • Research suggests collagen can improve skin hydration and elasticity, though studies are small and have many limitations.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Small drones often face one unavoidable limitation of battery power.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of limitation
Verb
  • Several Asian countries including Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Korea have raised interest rates in the past few months to curb inflation as the conflict in the Middle East has driven energy prices higher.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The bill would authorize the president to sanction Russian officials and impose steep tariffs on countries such as China and India in an effort to curb their purchases of Russian oil and gas.
    — Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of curb
Verb
  • With global supplies constrained, prices for Brent crude, the international standard, soared from about $70 to above $100 a barrel for much of March, April and May, and at one point reached $126.
    — Cathy Bussewitz, Fortune, 31 July 2026
  • Boundaries​ Boundaries define where autonomy is allowed, constrained or stopped.
    — Asanka Abeysinghe, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of constrain

Phrases Containing rein

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reimposing
rein
reincarnation
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Cite this Entry

“Rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rein. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rein

Nglish: Translation of rein for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rein

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