govern

About 6.76 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.

   The old king governed the land wisely.

2. verb To exercise political authority; to run a government.
3. verb To control the actions or behavior of; to keep under control; to restrain.

   Govern yourselves like civilized people.

4. verb To exercise a deciding or determining influence on.

   Chance governs the outcome of many card games.

5. verb To have or exercise a determining influence.
6. verb To handle, to manage, to oversee (a matter, an affair, a household, etc.).
7. verb To control the speed, flow etc. of; to regulate.

   a valve that governs fuel intake

8. verb To direct the course of, to guide in some direction, to steer.

Similar words

regulate rule regularize order dictate dominate address supervise manage guidance

Often followed by

the themselves their them and in a it his

Word family

governable governed governing governs