govern meaning and definition

GOVERN verb

Definition of govern (verb)

1. bring into conformity with rules or principles or usage; impose regulations
   • "We cannot regulate the way people dress"; "This town likes to regulate"
   • synonyms: order, regularise, regularize, regulate
   • antonym: deregulate
2. direct or strongly influence the behavior of
   • "His belief in God governs his conduct"
3. exercise authority over; as of nations
   • "Who is governing the country now?"
   • synonyms: rule
4. require to be in a certain grammatical case, voice, or mood
   • "most transitive verbs govern the accusative case in German"