in control
idiom
1
: in the position of one who makes decisions
He always wants to be in control.
2
: not overly upset or excited : calm and able to think and act in a sensible way
In spite of the pressure to pass the test, he felt calm and in control.
Examples of in control in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The country has faced a bloody civil war since 2011, but a brutal counteroffensive by Assad’s forces—aided by Russia—had reclaimed much of the country after 2016, leaving rebels in control of a tiny sliver of the country’s northwest while U.S.-backed Kurdish forces controlled eastern Syria.
—
Sara Dorn, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Everything’s fair game, from getting around via confetti cannon to using a new ability outfit that shrinks Nikki to minuscule proportions and puts the player in control of Momo instead.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Mandela Barnes, the 2022 Wisconsin Senate candidate, could not unseat Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Republicans have remained in control of both chambers of Wisconsin’s statehouse.
—Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Dec. 2024
In the past year, Israeli forces have killed over 40,000 people in Gaza, as well as around 700 in the West Bank (where Hamas is not in control).
—Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in control 
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.
Sara Dorn, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Everything’s fair game, from getting around via confetti cannon to using a new ability outfit that shrinks Nikki to minuscule proportions and puts the player in control of Momo instead.
—Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Mandela Barnes, the 2022 Wisconsin Senate candidate, could not unseat Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Republicans have remained in control of both chambers of Wisconsin’s statehouse.
—Annabella Rosciglione, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Dec. 2024
In the past year, Israeli forces have killed over 40,000 people in Gaza, as well as around 700 in the West Bank (where Hamas is not in control).
—Jonah Blank, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in control
Dictionary Entries Near in control
Cite this Entry
“In control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20control. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share