govern
gb/ɡˈʌvɚn/ us/ɡˈʌvɚn/
B2
Anglais
~ 3000
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
B2
action
1
Control and direct affairs
To officially lead and make decisions for a country, group, or organization.
Schéma d’usage :
to govern [a country/organization]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'govern' with 'manage' in casual contexts; 'govern' is usually used for countries, states, or formal organizations.
Synonymes
rule (Often more general; can refer to any form of exercising authority, not necessarily official government.)
|
administer (More formal and bureaucratic; often used for managing systems or organizations.)
Antonymes
follow (Implies being subject to rules rather than creating or enforcing them.)
|
submit (Implies yielding to another's control rather than exercising control.)
Collocations
govern a country
|govern effectively
|govern by law
|govern democratically
Thèmes
politics
|leadership
|law
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The president was elected to govern the nation for four years.
- A committee was formed to govern the new sports league.
- They promised to govern fairly and transparently.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The king will govern the land.
- She wants to govern the club.
- The mayor will govern the city.
- They govern the school with care.
Verbe
B2
action
2
Influence or determine actions
To have a strong effect on how something happens or how people act.
Schéma d’usage :
to govern [behavior/process]
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners only associate 'govern' with politics, but it is also used for rules and principles controlling behavior or systems.
Synonymes
control (Broad term for exerting influence over something.)
|
dictate (Implies setting strict conditions or requirements.)
Antonymes
ignore (Implies not influencing or controlling a situation.)
|
permit (Implies allowing without restriction instead of controlling.)
Collocations
govern behavior
|govern processes
|laws that govern
Thèmes
science
|behavior
|rules
|core_vocabulary
|communication
|work
Exemples
- Cultural norms often govern social interactions.
- The speed of the reaction is governed by temperature.
- In this sport, strict rules govern player conduct.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Rules govern how we play the game.
- Laws govern what people can do.
- Customs govern how we greet each other.
Verbe
technical
C1
action
3
Control machine operation
To control how a machine works or moves.
Schéma d’usage :
to govern [machine/system]
Synonymes
regulate (Common in technical contexts; focuses on maintaining desired operating conditions.)
Antonymes
overdrive (In machines, to push beyond controlled limits.)
Collocations
govern engine speed
|govern fuel flow
Thèmes
engineering
|technology
|science
|work
Exemples
- A device governs the engine's maximum speed.
- The system is governed automatically by a central processor.
- Valves govern the flow of water through the pipes.
Exemples pédagogiques
- A computer governs the car's speed.
- This part governs the robot's arm.
- The machine is governed by a small chip.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
govern
API
GB/ɡˈʌvɚn/
US/ɡˈʌvɚn/
Syllabes et accentuation
gov - ern (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (gov)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: govern
- 3rd Person Singular: governs
- Present Participle: governing
- Past: governed
Famille de mots
Forms
governs
verb
governing
verb
governed
verb
Core family
government
noun A2
governor
noun B1
Related words
governance
noun B2
governmental
adjective C1
Negative and opposite forms
ungovernable
adjective
non-governmental
adjective
Advanced or less common
governable
adjective
governorship
noun
Expressions
govern by law
1/ɡˈʌvɚn bˈaɪ lˈɔ/
fixed phrase
formal
Control according to laws
To lead and make decisions using established laws as the guide.
Exemples
- The country is governed by law, not by personal will.
- They believe societies should be governed by law for fairness.
govern oneself
1/ɡˈʌvɚn wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Control one's own behavior
To control your own actions and emotions.
Exemples
- He found it hard to govern himself when angry.
- Children must learn to govern themselves.
laws that govern
1/lˈɔz ðˈæt ɡˈʌvɚn/
fixed phrase
Rules that control behavior/processes
Rules that decide how something happens or how people act.
Exemples
- Scientists study the laws that govern the universe.
- There are strict laws that govern trade between the two nations.