regulate
verb
reg·u·late
ˈre-gyə-ˌlāt 
also ˈrā-
regulated; regulating
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
Synonyms
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
But TikTok has fought the law at every turn, arguing that the U.S. government is overstepping its bounds by attempting to regulate foreign ownership of a private company.
—
Nik Popli, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025
Ayurvedic practitioners have claimed that oil pulling can reduce plaque, prevent gingivitis, and regulate bad breath per a 2014 Vogue article, and the practice remains relevant a decade later.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2025
In the public sector, regulators need to understand them to effectively regulate them, as well as deploy the new management upgrade their own activities.
—Steve Denning, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Elon Musk calls far-right German party 'the only hope,' wading into upcoming election
EU faces pressure to regulate X speech
European critics of Musk are urging the European Union to regulate Musk's posts.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for regulate 
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Dictionary Entries Near regulate
Cite this Entry
“Regulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/regulate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
regulate
verb
reg·u·late
ˈreg-yə-ˌlāt
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
noun
-ˌlāt-ər
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
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
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