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
Example 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
The pope’s visit comes just two weeks after the European Union began implementing a new set of rules governing how each of its 27 member states will deal with irregular migration and asylum seekers.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
Residents are strictly governed by regulations and believe the outside world is toxic, but the protagonist, an engineer named Juliette Nichols, begins to uncover secrets about the Silo’s history and the truth behind their world.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Major League Eating organizes the event, and its International Federation of Competitive Eating is the governing body that oversees such depravity.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
Amid the 2026 World Cup, the trio spoke about soccer, and the Prince of Wales' role as the patron of the Football Association (FA), the sport's governing body in England.
—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
ABC News,
4 July 2026
Residents are strictly governed by regulations and believe the outside world is toxic, but the protagonist, an engineer named Juliette Nichols, begins to uncover secrets about the Silo’s history and the truth behind their world.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
Major League Eating organizes the event, and its International Federation of Competitive Eating is the governing body that oversees such depravity.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
Amid the 2026 World Cup, the trio spoke about soccer, and the Prince of Wales' role as the patron of the Football Association (FA), the sport's governing body in England.
—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
-
But in a landmark case, the Supreme Court ruled against the president on Monday, saying the administration failed to give Cook the opportunity to address those accusations, as required by law.
-
However, the high court also ruled against the president’s attempts to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, offering the central bank more protection.
Verb
-
The clinical version dates to research in the 1960s and 1970s, when devices tracked heart rate variability, muscle tension and skin temperature to help people regulate what was once considered automatic.
-
The chronic disease, which impairs the body’s ability to properly regulate blood sugar, contributed to 94,445 deaths that year.
Verb
-
The situation is pressing, but Coleman still manages to make a connection.
-
The platform has consistently managed volume over $1 billion daily since the soccer tournament began on June 11.
Verb
-
Russia meanwhile has claimed that its forces now control the important town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
-
The plant also can be controlled by applying a nonselective herbicide, but that will not save digging.
Verb
-
Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
-
The Lineage warehouse, built in 2018, is likely to contain different materials of concern.
Verb
-
Luis Mauricio Flores Ordonez, 33, was charged with owning an unregistered aircraft that was operated by another person.
-
Roy Gillian began operating the business as Gillian’s Wonderland Pier in 1965.
Verb
-
For just $18, this set includes four cubes in different sizes, along with a shoe bag, laundry bag, and cosmetic pouch to keep every travel essential in its place.
-
The app also offers travel guides and organizes your daily itinerary, keeping all your plans in one place.
Verb
-
The judge denied Fischer’s request to appoint and fund a special master to oversee the privilege screen but allowed defense attorneys to review the records themselves instead of prosecutors.
-
The first three times were under Socialist Party Prime Minister Felipe González starting in 1986, but conservative leader José Maria Aznar’s government also oversaw two such measures in the 2000s.
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
