Meaning & use
rein in
To bring something, especially a growing problem, cost, or strong emotion, under tighter control.
See it in a sentence
The manager had to rein in spending after the department went over budget twice.
She tried to rein in her temper before responding to the frustrating email.
A note on using this word
Rein in comes from controlling a horse with reins; it is often used with abstract nouns like spending, emotions, or ambition.
Words with a similar meaning
curbrestrain
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
unleash
Make it your own
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