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
Examples 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
For the first time, the United States had relatively precise rules and deadlines governing each state’s determination of its slate of electors.
—
Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Scorpio is a Water sign governed by Pluto, the planet of transformation and rebirth.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Over the past seven decades, Puerto Rico has been governed by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, currently in office led by Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, or by the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the island’s current territorial status.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Our country is divided by ideology, class and race every bit as much as Palestine's people were divided between Roman citizenship and those governed; those with financial resources and without; and those with power (within the religious and political communities) and those without.
—Leslie Smith Reeves Faith Matters, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for govern 
Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
Scorpio is a Water sign governed by Pluto, the planet of transformation and rebirth.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Over the past seven decades, Puerto Rico has been governed by the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, currently in office led by Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, or by the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the island’s current territorial status.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Our country is divided by ideology, class and race every bit as much as Palestine's people were divided between Roman citizenship and those governed; those with financial resources and without; and those with power (within the religious and political communities) and those without.
—Leslie Smith Reeves Faith Matters, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
-
On Monday, a Randall County judge ruled in a separate case that DeLao can keep his parental rights over his 1-year-old child with Torres.Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Previously a judge ruled the measure’s language as written by the City Council was partisan and it was changed for the ballot to remove a description of who some of the noncitizens are; plaintiffs argued the phrasing could swing voters to support the measure.Destiny Torres, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The issue of whether and how the FCC should regulate internet providers’ carriage of different sites, services, and apps did not come up in the 2024 campaign, but Republicans have consistently opposed net-neutrality regulations.Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
-
These naturally occurring hormones play crucial roles in regulating insulin, appetite and metabolism.Jackie Snow, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
These plans outline how a forest will be managed — like logging parameters, species protections, restoration projects and road maintenance.April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024
-
More than a third of Sedona’s homes have become short-term rentals, and the city government and other local agencies have become consumed with how to manage the influx of visitors—and how to infuse education on respectful public land use.Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
If confirmed, Kennedy will control the world’s largest public health agency, and its $1.7 trillion budget.Aleccia Washington, Twin Cities, 15 Nov. 2024
-
These screens were no longer just used for controlling the AC and the radio.Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Officials had not made progress on containing the fire, and there was no official count for the number of homes the Mountain Fire has destroyed in Camarillo Heights and other parts of Ventura County.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
-
Gonzalez fled the scene of the crash before police arrived, but left behind a Gatorade bottle that contained his DNA and ultimately led to his arrest, according to court records.Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Suncor Energy operates the only refinery in Colorado and the facility processes 98,000 barrels of crude oil a day.Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
-
The crash happened in San Francisco on Oct. 2, 2023, when a Cruise vehicle operating without a driver ran over a woman who was thrown into its path.Jason Green, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The Sharks’ prospect pool was also largely devoid of high-end talent, with the organization trading away multiple first-round draft picks throughout the 2010s for short-term solutions to keep the championship window open.Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
-
Or are they plagued by all the same problems of online dating — flighty matches, algorithms designed to keep you on the apps, and a lot of heartache and dissatisfaction?Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The company also oversees a colony of about 3,500 rhesus monkeys on the nearby Morgan Island, which is only accessible by boat at the mouth of the Combahee River.Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
-
If approved, the measure would extend a sales tax to support highways, roads and bus routes across the Valley. Proposition 479, formerly known as Prop. 400, would oversee the continuation of an existing dedicated half-cent sales tax in Maricopa County to fund transportation.Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near govern
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share