reign

IPA/reɪn/
KK[rˈen]IPA/reɪn/

reign — verb

  • reignpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • reigns3rd person singular
  • reigning-ing form
  • reignedpast simple

1. to be the official king, queen, or other monarch of a country, holding the highe

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to be the official king, queen, or other monarch of a country, holding the highest position of authority there.

Example

Queen Elizabeth II reigned for more than seventy years as the head of the monarchy.

reign + for + duration

The young pharaoh reigned from age nine until his death at nineteen.

Common collocations
  • reign over a country
  • reign as king/queen
  • reign for [period]
  • reign supreme
Synonyms
  • rule

    more active and general — any leader can rule, not just a monarch

  • govern

    focuses on running the administration of a country, less about ceremonial status

Antonyms
  • submit

    to give in to someone else's authority rather than holding it

Grammar Patterns

reign + over + country/people

reign + for + duration

reign + as + title

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'over' to name the country or people under the monarch's rule, or by 'for' to state the length of time.

Common Mistakes

The president reigned the country for four years.
The president ruled the country for four years.
'reign' is used only for monarchs; 'rule' can describe any leader.

2. to be the most noticeable, widespread, or powerful feeling, quality, or conditio

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to be the most noticeable, widespread, or powerful feeling, quality, or condition in a particular place or situation — for example, when chaos reigns after a disaster, or silence reigns in an empty hall.

Example

When the exams ended, a relaxed atmosphere reigned in the dormitory for a week.

abstract subject + reigns — dominant mood or condition

Shirin said that confusion reigned in the office after the manager suddenly quit.

Common collocations
  • silence reigns
  • chaos reigns
  • confusion reigns
  • peace reigns
  • fear reigns
  • uncertainty reigns
Synonyms
  • prevail

    more formal, often used in written English about conditions or attitudes

  • dominate

    stronger sense of control, can take a direct object

  • pervade

    suggests spreading through every part, more literary

Antonyms
  • subside

    when a strong feeling or condition becomes less intense

Grammar Patterns

[abstract noun] + reigns + [prepositional phrase]

reign + prepositional phrase of place/time

Usage Note

Subject is always an abstract noun — feelings (fear, peace), conditions (chaos, silence), or qualities (greed, order). Never use a person as the subject in this sense.

Common Mistakes

The director reigned over the meeting.
The director ran the meeting.
'reign' is not used for a person being dominant in a specific event; use 'run', 'lead', or 'preside over'.

reign — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All three words describe exercising authority, but they differ in scope and focus. 'Reign' is reserved for monarchs — a king or queen who holds the highest position, often in a ceremonial or hereditary capacity. 'Rule' is broader: any leader (president, dictator, chief) can rule, and it emphasises having and exercising power over people. 'Govern' is more administrative and institutional — it focuses on running a country's affairs through systems and policies rather than personal authority. For example, a queen may reign over the United Kingdom, the prime minister rules the country with the backing of parliament, and the civil service helps govern the day-to-day operations of the state.

reign ↗rule ↗govern ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • reign of terror
  • reign supreme
  • long reign
  • brief reign

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'regnum', meaning 'kingdom' or 'royal power', which itself comes from 'rex' ('king'). It passed into Old French as 'regne' and then into Middle English as 'reigne'. The figurative meaning — describing a dominant feeling or quality — developed in the 16th century.