Meaning & use
regulating
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“regulating” is a form of “regulate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Controlling an activity or process by making rules for it.
Grammar: The -ing form of 'regulate'; it needs an object: regulating the market.
Patterns
- regulating something
- be responsible for regulating something
The agency is responsible for regulating the sale of medicines.
Regulating the banks became a priority after the crisis.
They passed a law regulating how companies handle personal data.
verbtransitivetechnical
Keeping something at a steady level or within a desired range.
Grammar: Often used of machines and bodies: regulating temperature, heart rate, flow.
Patterns
- regulating temperature
- regulating the flow of something
The thermostat is regulating the temperature in the greenhouse.
These cells play a key role in regulating blood pressure.
A valve is used for regulating the flow of water into the tank.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Serving to control or keep something steady.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'regulating valve' or 'regulating power'.
Patterns
- a regulating valve
- regulating effect
A small regulating valve controls the pressure.
The body has several regulating systems that keep it stable.
Word forms
| third person singular | regulates |
|---|---|
| past tense | regulated |
| past participle | regulated |
| -ing form | regulating |
Common combinations
- regulating the economy
- The government took a more active role in regulating the economy.
- regulating temperature
- The device is good at regulating temperature in small rooms.
- strictly regulated
- Prices in this industry are strictly regulated.
- regulating body
- An independent regulating body oversees the profession.
- regulating the flow
- Engineers focused on regulating the flow of oil through the pipe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- controlling
- Wider in meaning: you can control a car or a temper, but you regulate rules, prices, or levels.
- governing
- Often about official authority over a country or institution; 'regulating' is more about setting and enforcing rules for an activity.
- adjusting
- Suggests small changes to get the right level; 'regulating' suggests keeping it steady over time.
Opposites
Word family
- regulation noun
- An official rule, or the act of controlling something.
- regulator noun
- A person or organization that controls an industry or activity.
- regulatory adjective
- Relating to rules and official control.
- regulated adjective
- Controlled by official rules.
Commonly confused: regulating or regularly? regulating or regulating vs. regulation?
regulating vs regularly
'Regulating' is the -ing form of the verb 'regulate'; 'regularly' is an adverb meaning 'at even intervals'.
regulating vs regulating vs. regulation
'Regulating' is the action in progress or used before a noun; 'regulation' is the noun for the rule or the system of control.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'regulating' correctly.
Choose one answer.
'Regulating' is a transitive verb form here and takes the object 'online sales' after 'at'. Options 1 and 4 use it as an adverb, and option 3 is missing the auxiliary verb 'is'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “regulating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.