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govern
[ guhv-ern ]
verb (used with object)
- to rule over by right of authority:
to govern a nation.
Synonyms: reign
Antonyms: obey
- to exercise a directing or restraining influence over; guide:
the motives governing a decision.
Synonyms: superintend, supervise, conduct, influence, sway, control
- to hold in check; control:
to govern one's temper.
- to serve as or constitute a law for:
the principles governing a case.
- Grammar. to be regularly accompanied by or require the use of (a particular form). In They helped us, the verb helped governs the objective case of the pronoun we.
- to regulate the speed of (an engine) with a governor.
verb (used without object)
- to exercise the function of government.
- to have predominating influence.
govern
/ ˈɡʌvən /
verb
- also intr to direct and control the actions, affairs, policies, functions, etc, of (a political unit, organization, nation, etc); rule
- to exercise restraint over; regulate or direct
to govern one's temper
- to be a predominant influence on (something); decide or determine (something)
his injury governed his decision to avoid sports
- to control the speed of (an engine, machine, etc) using a governor
- to control the rate of flow of (a fluid) by using an automatic valve
- (of a word) to determine the inflection of (another word)
Latin nouns govern adjectives that modify them
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Derived Forms
- ˌgovernaˈbility, noun
- ˈgovernable, adjective
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Other Words From
- govern·a·ble adjective
- govern·a·bili·ty govern·a·ble·ness noun
- over·govern verb (used with object)
- re·govern verb (used with object)
- super·govern verb (used with object)
- un·governed adjective
- un·govern·ing adjective
- well-governed adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of govern1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of govern1
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Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
“We restored our brand, showed we could govern, we took the temperature down,” says Feehery.
“The NTC pretends to govern, but it doesn't have any real power in the interior,” Tombstone tells him.
We think he will govern better for the Iraqi people and we will be able to work with him.
We think he will govern more inclusively and govern more with an eye with what is better for Iraq than the current situation.
By jumping into the race, Lewis could force Emanuel to govern to the left to fend off her attacks.
It is true that such application is not so high or grand as when they govern ideas, but it is equally genuine.
Those who really count in a nation and those who govern its destinies for good or ill are those who are born in it.
As the valve V1 is open, the sound waves formed in the pipe P1 will govern the speed of vibration of the motor M.
Let modesty and kind feeling govern your conversation, as other rules of life.
All agree that the intention of the parties should govern, but differ as to intention expressed in the words they have used.
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