Meaning & use
governs
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“governs” is a form of “govern”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Holds official power over a country, region or organization and makes the decisions about how it is run.
Grammar: Usually takes an object: she governs the state. It can also stand alone: the party governs.
Patterns
- someone governs something
- someone governs
The prime minister governs the country with the support of a coalition.
A council of elders governs the village and settles disputes.
Whichever party wins the election governs for the next four years.
verbtransitive
Controls or shapes how something happens, as a rule, principle or law does.
Grammar: The subject is a rule or force and the object is the thing it controls: a law governs trade.
Patterns
- something governs something
A strict code of conduct governs how employees use company data.
Gravity governs the motion of the planets.
The same principle governs both chess and many business negotiations.
Word forms
| base form | govern |
|---|---|
| past tense | governed |
| -ing form | governing |
Common combinations
- governs the country
- A small cabinet governs the country day to day.
- governs the use of
- A new regulation governs the use of drones near airports.
- rules that govern
- He explained the rules that govern the game.
- law governs
- Contract law governs most agreements between companies.
- governs wisely
- A leader who governs wisely listens to opposing views.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rules
- Rules is plainer and often suggests personal or strong control, whereas governs sounds more official and structured.
- controls
- Controls is wider and can apply to machines or feelings, while governs stresses authority and official decisions.
- administers
- Administers focuses on managing the practical running of an organization rather than holding supreme power.
- regulates
- Regulates fits rules for an activity or system, not the leading of a whole country or group.
Opposites
Word family
- government noun
- the group of people who run a country
- governor noun
- a person who leads a state or region, or oversees an institution
- governance noun
- the way an organization or country is run
- governable adjective
- able to be governed or controlled
- ungovernable adjective
- impossible to control
Commonly confused: governs or governs vs governess?
governs vs governs vs governess
A governess is a woman employed to teach children at home, and has nothing to do with running a country.
Practice
Which sentence uses the verb correctly?
Choose one answer.
A singular subject like the queen needs the -s form governs, and the verb takes a direct object without a preposition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “governs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.