In Great Britain the king reigns, but does not govern.
Source: tatoeba (26163)
Govern
/ˈɡʌv.ən/
Synonyms for "govern" (216 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (44)
Verb(5 words)
Noun(12 words)
administer email flowagency administeredchair the boardchemical hazard controlcity administration styleclimate regulatingcommand setcontrol overall forcecontrol structures lessoncontrolled energiescontrollingcontrols
Adjective(4 words)
Strong matches (64)
Related words (108)
Noun(23 words)
lawfully regulatedlordmost governmentally controlledoperate controllablypolicy directedreeveregulatingreigningreignsreigns of terrorromanian a conducerule based processrulesrulingruling bodyruling body decisionsruling partiessound administrationstate dominatedsystematizes data
Show 3 more words
systematizes recordsteam leader authoritytrade regulatory
lay down the lawlay under restraintleadlead onlook aftermake the rulesmanagemaneuvermanipulatemastermastermindmindofficerorderoverruleoverseepilotpossesspossess authorityprescribe
Show 38 more words
presidepreside overprohibitpullpull inpull the stringsquarterbackregulatereignreinrein inrenderrepressrestrainretardretrenchrulerunset backshepherdskipperslow downsnubstand oversteerstraitensubduesuperintendsupervisesuppressswaytake commandtake the leadusewear the crownwear the pantswield authoritywithhold
Verb(24 words)
leadlimitlordedmaintain total controlmanageordainorderpontificatespresideregulariseregularizeregulate behaviorregulate speedregulatedregulatesreignedruledshapestewardedsubjected
Show 4 more words
Determiner(1 words)
more flyball governing
Adjective(2 words)
ruling party platformswedish reglera
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: regulate, rule, administer, administer, administer email flow.
- Sentence evidence is available for govern, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "govern".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "govern"
Keep "govern" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "govern" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "govern", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "govern" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
11 entriesalgorithmic rulecentral authorityeducation standardsfederal governmentlaw enforcementlocal governmentpublic policyregulatory standardstate governmentstatutory ruletraffic regulation
Collocations
6 entriescentral authorityfederal governmentgovernance practicesgoverning bodygovernment policylocal government
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
15 translations across 12 languages.
Afrikaans
1 entries- bepaal verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Ancient Greek
1 entries- εὐθύνω verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Bulgarian
1 entries- влия́я verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Czech
1 entries- řídit verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Danish
1 entries- bestemme verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Dutch
1 entries- bepalen verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Finnish
1 entries- määrätä verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
German
1 entries- lenken verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Hungarian
2 entries- irányít verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
- meghatároz verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Romanian
3 entries- conduce verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
- cârmui verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
- dirija verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Russian
1 entries- влия́ть verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Ukrainian
1 entries- вплива́ти verb (to exercise a determining influence on)
Sample sentences
20 total sentences available.
That made him govern himself.
Source: tatoeba (50268)
They that govern the most make the least noise.
Source: tatoeba (243696)
You must learn to govern your temper.
Source: tatoeba (264449)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "govern"?
Closest matches include regulate, rule, administer, administer, administer email flow.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "govern"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.