governed; governing; governs
1
a
: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over
especially
: to control and direct the making and administration of policy in
The country was governed by a king.
b
: to rule without sovereign power and usually without having the authority to determine basic policy
2
a
archaic
: manipulate
b
: to control the speed of (a machine) especially by automatic means
3
a
: to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of
b
: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over
income must govern expenditure
c
: to hold in check : restrain
was told to govern her emotions
4
: to require (a word) to be in a certain case
5
: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for
customs that govern human decisions
1
: to prevail or have decisive influence : control
In all situations allow reason to govern.
2
: to exercise authority
Synonyms
Examples of govern in a Sentence
The tribe is governed by a 10-member council.
They want to form their own country and govern themselves.
The scandal limited her ability to govern effectively.
How would he govern if he were elected president?
She suggested changing the state's laws governing the sale of alcohol.
The council governs fishing in the region.
We will be studying the forces that govern the Earth's climate.
Tradition governs all aspects of their lives.
He allows himself to be governed by his emotions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Krista Joseph, the county commissioner for St. John's District 4, describes herself as an often-lone dissenting voice on the five-person governing body.
—
Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2024
Since those changes the region has remained on edge, governed by a New Delhi appointed administrator and run by bureaucrats with no democratic credentials.
—Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
The sight of a significant number of fans breaching security to gain access to the track at the end of the race was hardly reassuring for FIA, world motorsport’s governing body.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
In a stunning about-face to win that vote, Pheu Thai joined with its former military rivals and became head of a multi-party governing coalition.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for govern 
Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2024
Since those changes the region has remained on edge, governed by a New Delhi appointed administrator and run by bureaucrats with no democratic credentials.
—Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024
The sight of a significant number of fans breaching security to gain access to the track at the end of the race was hardly reassuring for FIA, world motorsport’s governing body.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024
In a stunning about-face to win that vote, Pheu Thai joined with its former military rivals and became head of a multi-party governing coalition.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for govern
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'govern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near govern
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/govern. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
govern
verb
gov·ern
ˈgəv-ərn 
1
: to exercise authority over : rule
the queen governed wisely
2
: to control the speed of by automatic means
3
a
: to control, direct, or strongly influence the actions and conduct of
governed by his emotions
b
: to hold in check : restrain
our income governs our spending
4
: to require a word to be in a certain case or mood
in English a transitive verb governs a pronoun in the objective case
5
: to serve as a rule or law for
etiquette governing their behavior
Legal Definition
govern
transitive verb
gov·ern
ˈgə-vərn
1
: to exercise continuous sovereign authority over
especially
: to control and direct the administration of policy in
2
: to exert a determining or guiding influence in or over
the testator's assets are governed by will substitutes—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.3
: to serve as a precedent or deciding principle for
the law governing bills of lading
United States v. Leon governs the case at bar
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