regulate

/ˈrɛɡjəˌleɪt/

Say it: REG-yuh-layt

1. verb To control or supervise an activity, business, or system by means of rules and regulations.
The Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for regulating civil aviation to ensure safety.
2. verb To adjust or control the rate or level of something, often a machine or a biological process.
A thermostat is a simple device that regulates the temperature in a room.
3. verb To put or keep in good order; to make regular or systematic.
He tried to regulate his chaotic schedule by planning each day the night before.

📖 Seen in the wild

Government agencies regulate industries to ensure public safety and fair competition.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ regulate in a sentence

The pancreas produces hormones that regulate blood sugar levels.
New laws were introduced to more strictly regulate the sale of firearms.
The dam was built to regulate the flow of the river and prevent flooding.
She finds it difficult to regulate her emotions when she's under stress.
The commission's primary function is to regulate trade practices between the member states.
As a parent, you have to regulate your children's screen time.
The internal clock of the body regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

control govern manage direct oversee supervise adjust standardize monitor

control · suggests direct power or command, while regulate implies using a system of rules.

govern · often implies political authority over a territory, whereas regulate focuses on specific activities.

manage · focuses on handling or directing things toward a goal, while regulate is more about enforcing standards.

direct · implies giving orders or guidance to steer a process.

Opposites: deregulate, unleash, free, disorganize, scramble

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'regulate' comes from the Latin 'regula', which means 'rule'. It entered English through the Late Latin 'regulare', meaning 'to control by rule, to direct'. The core idea has always been about making things 'regular' or conforming to a set standard, whether in a legal, mechanical, or personal sense.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

strictly regulateregulate the industrygovernment regulatesregulate body temperatureregulate the flow of

While 'regulate' can be used in personal contexts, like regulating one's diet, it is most at home in formal discussions about government, science, and business. It implies a level of complexity and official procedure that words like 'manage' or 'oversee' might not. Be mindful that 'regulate' often carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation in political discourse, where it can be associated with bureaucracy and restrictions on freedom.

Word family: regulation, regulator, regulatory, deregulate

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to regulate something?

To regulate something means to control it using rules or a system. It can also mean to adjust something, like temperature or pressure, to a desired level.

What is the difference between 'regulate' and 'control'?

'Regulate' implies using a system of rules or standards, often by an official body, to achieve control. 'Control' is a broader term for having direct power or command over something or someone.

What is an example of government regulation?

A common example is a food safety agency setting rules to regulate how food is processed and packaged. This ensures that the food sold to the public is safe to eat.

Is 'regulate' a formal word?

Yes, 'regulate' is generally a neutral to formal word. It is frequently used in legal, governmental, scientific, and business contexts.

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