Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense governs, present participle governing, past tense, past participle governed
1. verb
To govern a place such as a country, or its people, means to be officially in charge of the place, and to have responsibility for making laws, managing the economy, and controlling public services.
They go to the polls on Friday to choose the people they want to govern their country. [VERB noun]
Their citizens are very thankful they are not governed by a dictator. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: rule, lead, control, command More Synonyms of govern
2. verb
If a situation or activity is governedby a particular factor, rule, or force, it is controlled by that factor, rule, or force.
Marine insurance is governed by a strict series of rules and regulations. [beVERB-ed + by]
The government has altered the rules governing eligibility for unemployment benefit. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: determine, decide, guide, rule More Synonyms of govern
More Synonyms of govern
govern in British English
(ˈɡʌvən)
verb(mainly tr)
1. (also intr)
to direct and control the actions, affairs, policies, functions, etc, of (a political unit, organization, nation, etc); rule
2.
to exercise restraint over; regulate or direct
to govern one's temper
3.
to be a predominant influence on (something); decide or determine (something)
his injury governed his decision to avoid sports
4.
to control the speed of (an engine, machine, etc) using a governor
5.
to control the rate of flow of (a fluid) by using an automatic valve
6.
(of a word) to determine the inflection of (another word)
Latin nouns govern adjectives that modify them
Derived forms
governable (ˈgovernable)
adjective
governability (ˌgovernaˈbility) or governableness (ˈgovernableness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French gouverner, from Latin gubernāre to steer, from Greek kubernan
govern in American English
(ˈgʌvərn)
verb transitive
1.
to exercise authority over; rule, administer, direct, control, manage, etc.
2.
to influence the action or conduct of; guide; sway
to govern public opinion
3.
to hold in check; restrain; curb
to govern one's temper
4.
to regulate the speed of (an automobile, etc.) by means of a governor
5.
to be a rule or law for; determine
the scientific principles governing a phenomenon
6. Grammar
a.
to require (a word) to be in a certain case or mood
b.
to require (a particular case or mood)
; used as of prepositions with noun cases, esp. in highly inflected languages, and,in English, more loosely, of any interrelationship between forms, as that betweena preposition and a following pronoun
verb intransitive
7.
to exercise the function of governing; rule
SYNONYMY NOTE: govern implies the exercise of authority in controlling the actions of the members of abody politic and directing the affairs of state, and generally connotes as its purposethe maintenance of public order and the promotion of the common welfare; , rule now usually signifies the exercise of arbitrary or autocratic power; , administer implies the orderly management of governmental affairs by executive officials
Derived forms
governable (ˈgovernable)
adjective
Word origin
ME governen < OFr gouverner < L gubernare, to pilot (a ship), direct, guide < Gr kybernan, to steer, govern, prob. of non-IE orig.
Examples of 'govern' in a sentence
govern
The reshuffle will be judged on whether it leaves the country better governed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Relationships are often governed by socioeconomic factors.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is the generation that will one day govern our country.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Their team is equipped to govern a small nation.
The Sun (2011)
It needs to include some people from your governing board.
Christianity Today (2000)
No administration elected by the people can govern the country.
The Sun (2016)
But football is governed by many factors and staying may be out of my control.
The Sun (2015)
Can you really govern a nation whose anthem you would rather not sing?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is time to resist the ambition of these governing people.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But he neither controls nor governs the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But she also shows us that a nation cannot be governed by a single idea.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He wants the people to govern and the people to be happy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But what about those people who govern quietly and competently?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You don't expect him to be interested in the nation he governs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
The Sun (2009)
One Nation is about governing for the whole country.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In such circumstances, neither refusal nor apparent grant of consent would necessarily be the factor that governed the legality of the conduct in question.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
govern
British English: govern VERB
To govern a country means to officially control and organize it.
They go to the polls on Friday to choose the people they want to govern their country.
American English: govern
Brazilian Portuguese: governar
Chinese: 统治
European Spanish: gobernar
French: gouverner
German: regieren
Italian: governare
Japanese: 統治する
Korean: 통치하다
European Portuguese: governar
Latin American Spanish: gobernar
Chinese translation of 'govern'
govern
(ˈɡʌvən)
vt
[country]统(統)治 (tǒngzhì)
[event, conduct]控制 (kòngzhì)
vi
统(統)治 (tǒngzhì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to direct and control the policy and affairs of (a country or an organization)
They go to the polls on Friday to choose the people they want to govern their country.
Synonyms
rule
the feudal lord who ruled this land
lead
He led the country between 1949 and 1984.
control
He now controls the largest retail development empire in southern California.
You should not let other people control you.
command
the French general who commands the UN troops in the region
manage
Within two years, he was managing the store.
direct
She will direct day-to-day operations.
guide
She guided the plane down the runway and took off.
handle
She handled travel arrangements for the press corps.
conduct
I decided to conduct an experiment.
order
The President has ordered a full investigation.
reign over
administer
Next summer's exams will be straightforward to administer.
oversee
Get a surveyor to oversee and inspect the various stages of the work.
supervise
One of his jobs was supervising the dining room.
be in power over
call the shots
The directors call the shots.
call the tune
Who would then be calling the tune in Parliament?
hold sway over
superintend
During the interval, he superintended a prize draw.
2 (verb)
Definition
to control or determine
Marine insurance is governed by a strict series of rules and regulations.
Synonyms
determine
What determines whether you are a success or a failure?
decide
The goal that decided the match came just before half-time.
guide
He should have let his instinct guide him.
rule
The court ruled that laws passed by the assembly remained valid.
influence
What you eat may influence your risk of getting cancer.
underlie
sway
Don't ever be swayed by fashion.
3 (verb)
Try to govern your temper.
Synonyms
restrain
He grabbed my arm, partly to restrain me.
control
Try to control that temper of yours.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
contain
The city authorities said the curfew had contained the violence.
master
She needs to master her fears of becoming ill.
discipline
I'm very good at disciplining myself.
regulate
a powerful body to regulate the stock market
curb
He must learn to curb that temper of his.
inhibit
buildings which inhibit the supply of light and air
tame
Security guards helped to tame the crowd.
subdue
They admit they have not been able to subdue the rebels.
get the better of
bridle
I must learn to bridle my tongue.
hold in check
keep a tight rein on
Additional synonyms
in the sense of administer
Definition
to manage (an organization or estate)
Next summer's exams will be straightforward to administer.