rein 1 of 2

noun

ˈrān How to pronounce rein (audio)
Definition of reinnext
1
as in helm
usually reins plural the place of leadership or command after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company

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2
as in restriction
the act or practice of keeping something (as an activity) within certain boundaries the oversight committee called on the state to keep a much tighter rein on the activities of its contractors

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3
as in power
usually reins plural the right or means to command or control others a peaceful transfer of the reins of government has always been a hallmark of our nation

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rein

2 of 2

verb

as in to restrain

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rein
Noun
Handing McAtee the reins The 3-4-2-1 formation Forest have played with throughout pre-season will be familiar to Palace fans. — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Enter Lee, who became Carlyle’s co-CEO in 2018 and took the full reins after Youngkin launched his campaign for Virginia governor. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Who, if anyone, can stop this guy—rein him in politically or economically? — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 The efforts to rein them in include increasingly complex regulatory hurdles, legal scrutiny, and threats to funding. — Michael Posner, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rein
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rein
  1. helm
  2. restriction
  3. power
  4. restrain
  5. chair
  6. limitation
  7. curb
  8. constrain
Noun
  • Parent company Gap announced yesterday that customer chief Michael Francis will take over in November for Haio Barbeito, who has been at Old Navy's helm since 2022.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • He is next scheduled to helm Treasure Island from a script by Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne, with Hugh Jackman starring in the feature based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s work.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of helm
Noun
  • New York City just instituted a sweeping ban on schools using AI in the classroom through the start of high school, along with other restrictions on the technology.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Rosaviatsiya -- announced temporary flight restrictions at airports in Sochi, Gelendzhik, Penza, Saratov, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of restriction
Noun
  • As Itauma continued attempting to throw power punches, Hrgović knew his opponent had nothing left and went for the kill.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The last act before festival founder Olivia Rodrigo, Roan turned it out with all of her powers—bolstered by a bold and bitchy, razor-sharp bob.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • Appropriately so, given the placid recent range and the clockwork mechanics of sector rotation and low-correlation restraining index-level volatility.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This was the context for Justice Brewer’s remarks about Philip sober restraining Philip drunk.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of restrain
Noun
  • Despite its rural Republican reputation, people were thrilled to see him, said Adrienne Quinn Martin, chair of the Hood County Democratic Party.
    — Eleanor Dearman Updated August 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Critics say her tenure as chair hasn’t adequately met the moment.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of chair
Noun
  • The approach is designed around the limitations of small aerial vehicles, where additional weight and continuous motor operation can quickly drain a battery.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Financial constraints might have prevented Jarmond from firing Kelly sooner, but those limitations didn’t prevent him from extending Kelly’s contract in 2023.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of limitation
Verb
  • After all, why wouldn’t someone want to take one that could boost their fitness recovery, combat aging, curb hunger and trigger fat loss?
    — Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
  • California lawmakers advance sweeping bills to curb Big Tech’s power, targeting addictive social media, artificial intelligence in the workplace and voracious data centers amid mounting public anxiety over technology’s harms.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of curb
Verb
  • The 1982 Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom, for example, showed how a single successful strike on a warship can constrain an entire surface fleet.
    — HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Some refineries in Asia have also limited their diesel exports, which has further constrained the global diesel supply.
    — Willa Rubin, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of constrain

Phrases Containing rein

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reimposing
rein
reincarnation
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Cite this Entry

“Rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rein. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rein

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rein

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