- 1[transitive, intransitive] govern (something) to legally control a country or its people and be responsible for introducing new laws, organizing public services, etc. The country is governed by elected representatives of the people. He accused the other candidate of being unfit to govern.
- 2[transitive, often passive] govern something to control or influence someone or something or how something happens, functions, etc. Prices are governed by market demand. All his decisions have been entirely governed by self-interest. We need changes in the law governing school attendance.
- 3[transitive] govern something (grammar) if a word governs another word or phrase, it affects how that word or phrase is formed or used
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NAmE//ˈɡʌvərn//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they govern he / she / it governs
past simple governed
-ing form governing
Check pronunciation: govern