reign

[ reyn ]

noun

1. the period during which a sovereign occupies the throne.
2. royal rule or authority; sovereignty.

   Synonyms: suzerainty, dominion

3. dominating power or influence:

   the reign of law.

verb (used without object)

1. to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority.

   Synonyms: prevail, govern, rule

   Antonyms: obey

2. to hold the position and name of sovereign without exercising the ruling power.
3. to have control, rule, or influence of any kind.
4. to predominate; be prevalent.

reign

/ reɪn /

noun

1. the period during which a monarch is the official ruler of a country
2. a period during which a person or thing is dominant, influential, or powerful

   the reign of violence is over

verb

1. to exercise the power and authority of a sovereign
2. to be accorded the rank and title of a sovereign without having ruling authority, as in a constitutional monarchy
3. to predominate; prevail

   a land where darkness reigns

4. usually present participle to be the most recent winner of a competition, contest, etc

   the reigning heavyweight champion

Usage

Reign is sometimes wrongly written for rein in certain phrases: he gave full rein (not reign ) to his feelings; it will be necessary to rein in (not reign in ) public spending

Other Words From

• inter·reign verb (used without object)
• non·reigning adjective
• outreign verb (used with object)
• un·reigning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reign¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English noun reine, regne, from Old French reigne, from Latin regnum “realm, reign,” derivative of reg- (stem of rēx ) “king”; Middle English verb reinen, regnen, from Old French reignier, from Latin regnāre, derivative of regnum

Word History and Origins

Origin of reign¹

C13: from Old French reigne , from Latin rēgnum kingdom, from rēx king

Example Sentences

Now hackers are trying to turn the extensive surveillance state against Lukashenko to end his reign—and to do it, they claim to have pulled off one of the most comprehensive hacks of a country in history.

From MIT Technology Review

Morey hopes that, perhaps within a few decades, the null ritual’s reign of errors will end.

From Science News

Kim Jong Un “seems to have resumed a reign of terror by purging scores of officials over his own disastrous failings amid a growing food shortage,” said the conservative Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s biggest-selling newspaper.

From The Daily Beast

The vision, he says, is to challenge the reign of fossil fuels.

From Science News

Victoria married her personal trainer and after her future reign as queen, her title will pass to their daughter, Princess Estelle.

From Ozy

Little did she know that Netanyahu was not about to give her free reign in the negotiations.

From The Daily Beast

“I think Sex Ed is equally, if not more, important than mathematics or English,” says Reign.

From The Daily Beast

And that is an awful lot less bloody than what happened during the Reign of Terror.

From The Daily Beast

However it is that she got there, we know the reign of the tyrants at Grady Memorial is coming to a close.

From The Daily Beast

NYC is having its worst year in restaurant closures, and only one thing is certain: its epicurean reign is in trouble.

From The Daily Beast

His lordship during the earlier part of his reign never came near Walls End Castle.

From Project Gutenberg

Long before that, however, the sun had come back to gladden the Polar regions, and break up the reign of ancient night.

From Project Gutenberg

In the reign of some of the English kings the demolition of such houses would not have been adjudged treason.

From Project Gutenberg

Your covetous wish that you and your daughter should reign at Hartledon is on the point of being gratified.

From Project Gutenberg

Their conference was short; but it implied to Louis, that his delegated reign, as well as that of his father, was at an end.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dynasty
• regime
• tenure