govern
verb (used with object)
to rule over by right of authority.
governs
-
present tense formof govern (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
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.
The treaty governs the use of water from six rivers, whose headwaters originate in India but flow into Pakistan as part of the Indus basin -- a resource relied on by hundreds of millions.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
Concacaf, which governs football in North and Central America and hosted this year's World Cup, said its 41 member associations have "rejected" Fifa's proposal.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
“What they have done is lower the standard for everything,” said Ali Khawar, a former senior official at the Department of Labor, which is charged with enforcing the federal law that governs retirement savings.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
On the republic’s 250th birthday, that is worth celebrating: not the government that governs us, but the restless, inventive, association-forming energy of the American people themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
It governs the behavior of transistors and integrated circuits, which are the essential components of electronic devices such as televisions and computers, and is also the basis of modern chemistry and biology.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
