Synonyms for

Reign

Verb / reɪn / Another word for reign — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

To rule over a country or territory as a monarch.

Synonyms & similar words

rule sovereignty dominate predominate prevail rule govern dominate control command direct manage supervise oversee administer conduct lead guide regulate influence sway ascend occupy

Synonyms by register

Formal

rule govern preside dominate

Informal

be in charge call the shots run things

Literary

hold sway command rule supreme

Antonyms

submit obey serve yield subordinate defer

Common collocations

  • reign supreme
  • reign of terror
  • long reign
  • during his reign
  • reign over
  • reign in
  • reign of a monarch

Word family

noun reign
verb reign

Usage note

While 'reign' can be used metaphorically for any period of dominance, it most commonly refers to the period a monarch rules. 'Reign in' is a phrasal verb meaning to curb or restrain.

Example sentences

  1. The queen will reign over the kingdom with kindness and fairness.
  2. The emperor's reign was marked by war and conquest.
  3. During the reign of Queen Victoria, the British Empire expanded.
  4. The new king's reign brought peace and prosperity to the land.
  5. The dictator's reign was characterized by violence and oppression.

Quotes

  • The reign of tears is over. The slums will soon be a memory. We will turn our prisons into factories and our jails into storehouses and corncribs. Men will walk upright now, women will smile, and the children will laugh. Hell will be forever for rent. - Eugene V. Debs
  • The reign of terror caused more problems than it solved. - Madeleine Albright
  • I think the reign of books is about to come to an end. - John Naisbitt

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