self-regulate

verb

self-reg·​u·​late ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 

 also  -ˈrā-

self-regulated; self-regulating; self-regulates

1

intransitive : to regulate oneself or itself

allowing markets to self-regulate

… noted the overwhelming lack of public trust in the financial services industry's ability to self-regulate effectively …

—Sally Rose

The idea is that the kids learn how to manage and self-regulate.

—Cheyenne Derksen Schroeder

2

transitive : to control or govern (something) for or by oneself

… was hired by the motion picture industry to head up a new body to self-regulate the movies.

—Katharine Monk

the ability of the child to self-regulate her behavior

… a horse who is permitted to self-regulate his intake will eat only what his body needs.

—Juliet M. Getty

self-regulative

ˌself-ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv 

 also  -ˈrā-

adjective

self-regulative processes

Examples of self-regulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The homeostatic process is a self-regulating mechanism that our bodies use to maintain stability, such as building up sleep pressure. —Gina Park, CNN, 2 Nov. 2024

The comments were another powerful reminder that tech companies cannot be trusted to self-regulate. —Daniel Colson, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024

The assumption that a company can self-regulate is alarming, according to Dominic Sisti, an associate professor at University of Pennsylvania who researches ethics in the psychedelics industry. —Michelle Lhooq, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

My high school students sometimes have to respond to a parent or employer, schedule an appointment, or there may be kids who need to self-regulate special health needs. —Davon Loeb, Parents, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2