1
a
: royal authority : sovereignty
under the reign of the Stuart kings
b
: the dominion, sway, or influence of one resembling a monarch
the reign of the Puritan ministers
2
: the time during which someone (such as a sovereign) reigns
reigned; reigning; reigns
1
a
: to possess or exercise sovereign power : rule
b
: to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power
in England the sovereign reigns but does not rule
2
: to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
3
: to be predominant or prevalent
chaos reigned in the classroom
Synonyms
Examples of reign in a Sentence
Noun
She was a popular ruler throughout her reign.
the reign of Queen Elizabeth
his reign as department chairperson
her reign as team president
his reign as heavyweight boxing champion
the reign of digital technology
Verb
The king reigned in a time of peace and prosperity.
The lion reigns as king of the jungle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 May 2024
Minimalist interiors and high-end finishes reign in the guest rooms, which showcase pieces of the brand's furnishing line, Armani/Casa.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for reign 
Noun
Critics and audiences have responded positively to the film, which takes place long after the reign of Caesar (the revolutionary leader played by Andy Serkis).
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 May 2024
Minimalist interiors and high-end finishes reign in the guest rooms, which showcase pieces of the brand's furnishing line, Armani/Casa.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for reign
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near reign
Cite this Entry
“Reign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reign. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reign
1 of 2 noun1
: the authority or rule of a monarch
2
: the time during which a monarch reigns
reign
2 of 2 verb1
: to govern as a monarch
2
: to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch
3
: to be usual or widespread
silence reigned
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