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
Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024
Henri acceded in October 2000 when his father, Grand Duke Jean, abdicated at age 79 following a 35-year reign.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reign 
Noun
Toranaga’s clandestine Crimson Sky plot was executed perfectly by Mariko, who sacrificed her own life in explosive fashion, becoming something of a martyr that upends the power-hungry Lord Ishido’s plans to solidify his reign over Japan.
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024
Henri acceded in October 2000 when his father, Grand Duke Jean, abdicated at age 79 following a 35-year reign.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 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 3 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share