Meaning & use

reign

noun·Academic

The period during which a monarch or ruler holds power, or a period marked by a dominant influence.

See it in a sentence

Queen Victoria's reign lasted over sixty years, longer than any English monarch before her.

The team's reign as league champions finally ended after five straight titles.

A note on using this word

Reign is often confused with 'rein', the strap used to control a horse; 'free rein' and 'reign of terror' use different spellings entirely.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To hold royal power or rule as a monarch during a particular period.

King Henry VIII reigned over England for nearly four decades.

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