regulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
regulates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regulated,
past participle, past
-
regulating
present participle
-
to control or direct by a rule, principle, method, etc..
The statute is intended to regulate the business practices of architects by establishing a code of professional conduct.
-
to adjust to some standard or requirement, as amount, degree, etc..
A film was applied to the windows to help regulate the temperature and reduce glare.
- Synonyms:
- set
-
to adjust so as to ensure accuracy of operation.
If the watch is consistently off, it can be fixed relatively simply by regulating the beat rate.
-
to put or keep something in good order or within reasonable limits.
Playful interactions with adult caregivers help children develop the ability to regulate their emotions and behavior.
- Synonyms:
- balance
-
Biology. to adjust or adapt (a bodily process or function) in response to external stimuli.
-
Genetics. to control the expression of (a gene or genes).
verb
-
to adjust (the amount of heat, sound, etc, of something) as required; control
-
to adjust (an instrument or appliance) so that it operates correctly
-
to bring into conformity with a rule, principle, or usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
overregulateverb
-
misregulateverb (used with object)
-
preregulateverb (used with object)
-
reregulateverb (used with object)
-
nonregulatedadjective
-
nonregulativeadjective
-
quasi-regulatedadjective
-
regulativeadjective
-
regulatoryadjective
-
unregulatedadjective
-
unregulativeadjective
-
well-regulatedadjective
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regulativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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regulatesimple
-
regulatessimple
-
have regulatedperfect
-
has regulatedperfect
-
am regulatingprogressive
-
are regulatingprogressive
-
is regulatingprogressive
-
have been regulatingperfect progressive
-
has been regulatingperfect progressive
Past
-
regulatedsimple
-
had regulatedperfect
-
was regulatingprogressive
-
were regulatingprogressive
-
had been regulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regulate
First recorded in 1620–30, from Late Latin rēgulātus (past participle of rēgulāre “to direct”); see regula, -ate 1
Explanation
The on-off spigot regulates the flow of water into your bathtub. When a government regulates an industry, they set standards the industry must follow. To regulate means to impose control. Regulate shares a root with the word, regular. When the transit authority regulates a train schedule, it makes sure trains arrive on a more regular schedule. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated –– before a drug can be marketed, it must be tested. On a more personal level, if you want to regulate your digestive system, try eating more fiber... or prunes!
Vocabulary lists containing regulate
Florida EOC Civics
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The Articles of Confederation (1777)
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This Week In Words: September 5–11, 2020
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Snakes are ectothermic animals, meaning they depend heavily on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026
Cancer also involves abnormal cell behavior, including failures in the mechanisms that ordinarily regulate cell growth and division.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
Concerns about AI safety have soared in recent months after models developed by OpenAI and Anthropic were involved in security incidents during testing, piling on pressure to regulate the technology.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Last year, Raman voted in favor of a 45-day citywide moratorium on new RV parks, a move aimed at giving city planners time to draft permanent new rules to regulate such facilities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
If not, I’ll have to regulate because as far as I’m concerned, they’re the ones on probation in my and how many friends I have made because of it.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
Police initially said they were arrested on suspicion of committing offenses under the Explosives Act, which regulates who can carry explosives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
The agency regulates broadcast channels that are delivered over the public airwaves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
Department of Transportation attaching itself to a series paid for by companies it regulates, including United Airlines, Chase Travel, Toyota, Boeing and Royal Caribbean.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
By identifying a biological pathway that directly regulates this inflammation, the new findings suggest that future therapies could potentially target liver inflammation alongside existing treatments focused on weight and liver fat.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
She walks in a circle until her breath regulates, because she knows what will happen to her muscles if she doesn’t.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
"The issue of humane treatment of animals is sufficiently regulated by law," they determined, noting the economic interests of animal circuses, which remain a major draw for audiences.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
In diabetic wounds, however, the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps can become poorly regulated.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
Tech executives and lawmakers around the country have been grappling with the pace of AI’s development and how the technology should be regulated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The reduction is the local outworking of two schemes which apply in Great Britain, which has a separately regulated electricity market.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
It had been legislated and regulated to at least seem fair.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Research published since then has added evidence that the brain plays an important role in regulating aging.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
If brain fog and anxiety are concerns, simply regulating nutritional intake can solve for that, no matter what your cortisol tests say.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
Their application argues that the decision by the Parades Commission -- the independent body regulating contentious marches -- misrepresented police evidence about the risk of disorder.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
The director would be able to manage public works projects, including construction, buying or leasing property, exercising eminent domain with City Council approval, granting street permits, regulating parking and recommending budgets for the department.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Watches lying on a shelf run differently from watches carried about, and so Father always wore the ones he was regulating.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
