regulate
verb
reg·u·late
ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 
also ˈrā-
regulated; regulating
1
a
: to govern or direct according to rule
b(1)
: to bring under the control of law or constituted authority
(2)
: to make regulations for or concerning
regulate the industries of a country
2
: to bring order, method, or uniformity to
regulate one's habits
3
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
regulate the pressure of a tire
Synonyms
Examples of regulate in a Sentence
The dam regulates the flow of water into the river.
We need better laws to regulate the content of the Internet.
Laws have been made to regulate working conditions.
The government regulates how much lead may be found in our water supply.
The department regulates foreign trade.
Recent Examples on the Web
Under the Constitution’s Elections Clause, judges cannot intrude on state lawmakers’ authority to regulate federal elections, but the high court’s decision did not set a specific test for determining when that boundary is crossed.
—
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
The commerce clause is the provision in the constitution that gives Congress the authority to regulate interstate economic activity and commerce with foreign nations.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump’s executive order, signed Monday evening, guts the 2023 executive order that Biden issued to regulate AI.
—Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Jan. 2025
The dye, which has been registered with and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1971, is used by food manufacturers to achieve a bright red color.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for regulate 
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Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
The commerce clause is the provision in the constitution that gives Congress the authority to regulate interstate economic activity and commerce with foreign nations.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Trump’s executive order, signed Monday evening, guts the 2023 executive order that Biden issued to regulate AI.
—Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Jan. 2025
The dye, which has been registered with and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 1971, is used by food manufacturers to achieve a bright red color.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for regulate
Dictionary Entries Near regulate
Cite this Entry
“Regulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regulate. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
regulate
verb
reg·u·late
ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt
regulated; regulating
1
a
: to govern or direct according to rule
b
: to bring under the control of authority
regulate prices
2
: to bring order or method to
regulate one's habits
3
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
regulate the pressure of a tire
the brain regulates the heartbeat
regulator
noun
-ˌlāt-ər
Etymology
from Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare "to regulate, direct," from regula "a rule, straightedge" — related to rail entry 1, regent, rule
Medical Definition
regulate
transitive verb
reg·u·late
ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt
regulated; regulating
1
: to control or direct according to rule or law
regulate the testing of experimental drugs
2
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
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