regulate

verb

reg·​u·​late ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce regulate (audio)
also ˈrā-
regulated; regulating
Synonyms of regulate

transitive verb

1
a
: to govern or direct according to rule
b(1)
: to bring under the control of law or constituted authority
(2)
: to make regulations for or concerning
regulate the industries of a country
2
: to bring order, method, or uniformity to
regulate one's habits
3
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
regulate the pressure of a tire
regulative
ˈre-gyə-ˌlā-tiv How to pronounce regulate (audio)
also ˈrā-
adjective
regulatory
ˈre-gyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce regulate (audio)
also ˈrā-
adjective

Synonyms of regulate

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Examples of regulate in a Sentence

The dam regulates the flow of water into the river. We need better laws to regulate the content of the Internet. Laws have been made to regulate working conditions. The government regulates how much lead may be found in our water supply. The department regulates foreign trade.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An architect’s struggle with Nevada’s state licensing board raises a broader question about how to regulate industry. — Wendy R. Anderson, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 The group says it’s shaped several must-haves by taking lessons from Washington’s failure to regulate social media. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The agency charged with regulating Colorado’s first-in-the-nation legal recreational marijuana market potentially put consumers at risk of using contaminated products, a new state audit found. — Christopher Osher, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 The Pakistani mill’s Kinetic collection delivered utility through dense constructions and temperature-regulating fabrics that are enhanced with Coolmax, Core Drye and TruTemp365 technologies. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for regulate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare, from Latin regula rule

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of regulate was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing regulate

Rhymes for regulate

See All Rhymes for regulate

Browse Nearby Words

regulatable
regulate
regulated company
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Regulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regulate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

regulate

verb
reg·​u·​late ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce regulate (audio)
regulated; regulating
1
a
: to govern or direct according to rule
b
: to bring under the control of authority
regulate prices
2
: to bring order or method to
regulate one's habits
3
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
regulate the pressure of a tire
the brain regulates the heartbeat
regulator
-ˌlāt-ər
noun
regulatory
-lə-ˌtōr-ē How to pronounce regulate (audio)
-ˌtȯr-
adjective
Etymology

from Latin regulatus, past participle of regulare "to regulate, direct," from regula "a rule, straightedge" — related to rail entry 1, regent, rule

Medical Definition

regulate

transitive verb
reg·​u·​late ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce regulate (audio)
regulated; regulating
1
: to control or direct according to rule or law
regulate the testing of experimental drugs
2
: to fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
regulatory
-lə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce regulate (audio)
adjective

Legal Definition

regulate

transitive verb
reg·​u·​late
regulated; regulating
1
: to govern or direct according to rule
2
a
: to bring under the control of law
b
: to make regulations for or concerning
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