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
However, the moons weren't officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, the governing body for such affairs, until Tuesday (March 11).
—
Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2025
This includes regulations governing clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales, distribution of drug products, and compliance with privacy and data security laws.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
House Democrats of all stripes have spent the entirety of President Trump’s first two months denouncing his governing strategy as chaotic and hammering his policy prescriptions as harmful to working-class people — even those who supported the president.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025
The two parties of the current governing coalition, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut, saw their support slump.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2025
This includes regulations governing clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales, distribution of drug products, and compliance with privacy and data security laws.
—Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
House Democrats of all stripes have spent the entirety of President Trump’s first two months denouncing his governing strategy as chaotic and hammering his policy prescriptions as harmful to working-class people — even those who supported the president.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025
The two parties of the current governing coalition, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut, saw their support slump.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
-
While the process can be time-consuming, the employee is entitled to return to their job and receive backpay if a judge rules in favor of the employee.—
Matthew Kaufman,
CNN,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The federal judge granted the restraining order on Saturday, ruling that the administration can’t remove the five plaintiffs for two weeks so the judge can first hold a hearing on their challenge.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Many probiotics are sold as supplements, which are minimally regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The red states allege that the claims pending in state court seek to regulate activity outside of the blue states' borders and involve an area governed by federal law.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Anybody who has spent time in an IT organization knows how messy and complex managing a large-scale storage environment can be (which drives up costs).—
Matt Kimball,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Apple navigated tariffs during the previous Trump administration, too, although the company managed to dodge some of them back then.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
From the outset, the premise of Monstress and its tale is a dire one: imagine a 1900s alternative universe controlled by a cruel matriarchal society in Asia.—
Tiffany Leigh,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Many of these features, along with the onboard alarm system, are controlled via the Aventon mobile app.—
Paul Ridden,
New Atlas,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Some of the fires are continuing, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, which identified the New State fire in Pittsburg County to have burned 200 acres and 90 percent contained.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
-
Victim engagement: The sting is complete when, by using Microsoft’s billing emails that contain the organization name and fake support contact numbers, victims are urged to immediately contact what is purporting to be a critical support lifeline.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Seven vital missile batteries The two SAMP/Ts and six Patriots the Ukrainian air force currently operates should, in theory, provide slightly more than the bare minimum of long-range air-defense coverage of the biggest Ukrainian cities.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Zoom out: The Flow Trip operates as a stand-alone business within Flow.—
Sara Fischer,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In contrast, the energy transition has a long-term basis, with 2050 as the magic date of the Paris agreement to keep global temperature rise below 2 C degrees above pre-industrial times.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
-
The weight distribution is key here, with a well-padded and well-placed hip belt that sits right at your iliac crest and helps keep the majority of the load off your shoulders.—
Maggie Slepian,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Judge Boasberg -- who previously oversaw the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court -- pushed back on the idea that the information could not be disclosed to the court.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2025
-
But the government body responsible for overseeing contaminants in cookies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), doesn’t set limits for metals in foods.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share