reign
1 of 2noun
ˈrān 
1
a
: royal authority : sovereignty
under the reign of the Stuart kings
b
: the dominion, sway, or influence of one resembling a monarch
the reign of the Puritan ministers
2
: the time during which someone (such as a sovereign) reigns
reign
2 of 2verb
reigned; reigning; reigns
intransitive verb
1
a
: to possess or exercise sovereign power : rule
b
: to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power
in England the sovereign reigns but does not rule
2
: to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
3
: to be predominant or prevalent
chaos reigned in the classroom
Synonyms
Noun
- ascendance
- ascendence
- ascendancy
- ascendency
- dominance
- domination
- dominion
- hegemony
- imperium
- predominance
- predominancy
- preeminence
- sovereignty
- sovranty
- supremacy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun She was a popular ruler throughout her reign. the reign of Queen Elizabeth his reign as department chairperson her reign as team president his reign as heavyweight boxing champion the reign of digital technology Verb The king reigned in a time of peace and prosperity. The lion reigns as king of the jungle. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 18 Sep. 2022 During her more than 70-year reign, Elizabeth received several hundred gifts from the American people, according to Sally Goodsir, a curator with the Royal Collection Trust. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2022 The queen, who was Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died earlier this month after a 70-year reign. Darlene Superville, ajc, 18 Sep. 2022 But barely days into his reign, murmurs of a mass exodus from the Commonwealth club are already stalking the new king. Kojo Koram, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2022 Construction of the chapel first began in 1475 under King Edward IV’s reign and was completed in 1528 under King Henry VIII. Time, 17 Sep. 2022 Here, then, is a reading list about the longest-serving British monarch in history: her life and reign as both an individual, and the guardian of an often problematic institutional monarchy. Alison Fishburn, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 However, half a century ago — already a generation into her reign — a short book turned the problem on its head. Dennis Duncan, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Since then, it's been a whirlwind of travel and officially duties for the couple as King Charles begins his reign and mourns his mother. Aaron Parsley, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2022 Brocwell, 21, was crowned in 2021 and was expected to reign over this year's festivities. Gere Goble, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2022 That’s not fair, of course, but the monarchy is unfairness personified and glorified, long to reign over us. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022 The Dansko clog continues to reign supreme with a 4.4-star rating on Amazon. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 Delia Owens' 2018 novel about a young girl accused of murder continues to reign at No. 1 on USA Today's Best Selling Books list for a fifth straight week, for a total of 18 weeks at no. 1 and 204 weeks on the list since its debut. Mary Cadden, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2022 Even with a stream of solo projects likely on the way, BTS continues to reign supreme as a band. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 29 June 2022 Among Americans, the most lucrative market for advertising, TikTok continues to reign supreme, but YouTube Shorts is in second place and gaining ground, according to a survey by data platform company Inmar Intelligence. Salvador Rodriguez, WSJ, 18 June 2022 Naperville continues to reign as the top suburb in retail sales for the fifth year in a row, a recent report shows. Suzanne Baker, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2022 See More
Noun
Each has a special meaning connected to the monarch's reign. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 18 Sep. 2022 During her more than 70-year reign, Elizabeth received several hundred gifts from the American people, according to Sally Goodsir, a curator with the Royal Collection Trust. Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY, 18 Sep. 2022 The queen, who was Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died earlier this month after a 70-year reign. Darlene Superville, ajc, 18 Sep. 2022 But barely days into his reign, murmurs of a mass exodus from the Commonwealth club are already stalking the new king. Kojo Koram, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2022 Construction of the chapel first began in 1475 under King Edward IV’s reign and was completed in 1528 under King Henry VIII. Time, 17 Sep. 2022 Here, then, is a reading list about the longest-serving British monarch in history: her life and reign as both an individual, and the guardian of an often problematic institutional monarchy. Alison Fishburn, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 However, half a century ago — already a generation into her reign — a short book turned the problem on its head. Dennis Duncan, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Since then, it's been a whirlwind of travel and officially duties for the couple as King Charles begins his reign and mourns his mother. Aaron Parsley, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 Verb
According to thousands of Amazon shoppers, the Zionor Lagopus Ski Goggles reign superior. Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2022 Brocwell, 21, was crowned in 2021 and was expected to reign over this year's festivities. Gere Goble, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2022 That’s not fair, of course, but the monarchy is unfairness personified and glorified, long to reign over us. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022 The Dansko clog continues to reign supreme with a 4.4-star rating on Amazon. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 17 Aug. 2022 Delia Owens' 2018 novel about a young girl accused of murder continues to reign at No. 1 on USA Today's Best Selling Books list for a fifth straight week, for a total of 18 weeks at no. 1 and 204 weeks on the list since its debut. Mary Cadden, USA TODAY, 4 Aug. 2022 Even with a stream of solo projects likely on the way, BTS continues to reign supreme as a band. Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 29 June 2022 Among Americans, the most lucrative market for advertising, TikTok continues to reign supreme, but YouTube Shorts is in second place and gaining ground, according to a survey by data platform company Inmar Intelligence. Salvador Rodriguez, WSJ, 18 June 2022 Naperville continues to reign as the top suburb in retail sales for the fifth year in a row, a recent report shows. Suzanne Baker, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English regne, from Anglo-French, from Latin regnum, from reg-, rex king — more at royal
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing reign
Kids Definition
reign 1 of 2
noun
ˈrān
1
: the authority or rule of a monarch
2
: the time during which a monarch rules
reign
2 of 2verb
reigned; reigning
1
: to rule as a monarch
2
: to be usual or widespread
Enthusiasm reigned in the classroom.
3
: to be the best or most powerful
the reigning champions
reigned
verb
as in ruled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ruled
- governed
- monitored
- administered
- managed
- controlled
- ordered
- steered
- showed
- directed
- commanded
- guided
- shepherded
- handled
- supervised
- ran
- presided (over)
- superintended
- headed
- run
- oversaw
- overlooked
- bossed
- captained
- quarterbacked