Meaning & use
govern
To officially control and direct the public affairs of a country, organization, or people.
See it in a sentence
The elected council will govern the town for the next four years.
These rules govern how the competition is scored and judged.
A note on using this word
Govern can apply to political leadership or, more broadly, to any set of principles that controls a process or behavior.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
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