regulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
regulates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regulated,
past participle, past
-
regulating
present participle
-
to control or direct by a rule, principle, method, etc..
The statute is intended to regulate the business practices of architects by establishing a code of professional conduct.
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to adjust to some standard or requirement, as amount, degree, etc..
A film was applied to the windows to help regulate the temperature and reduce glare.
- Synonyms:
- set
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to adjust so as to ensure accuracy of operation.
If the watch is consistently off, it can be fixed relatively simply by regulating the beat rate.
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to put or keep something in good order or within reasonable limits.
Playful interactions with adult caregivers help children develop the ability to regulate their emotions and behavior.
- Synonyms:
- balance
-
Biology. to adjust or adapt (a bodily process or function) in response to external stimuli.
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Genetics. to control the expression of (a gene or genes).
verb
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to adjust (the amount of heat, sound, etc, of something) as required; control
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to adjust (an instrument or appliance) so that it operates correctly
-
to bring into conformity with a rule, principle, or usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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overregulateverb
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misregulateverb (used with object)
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preregulateverb (used with object)
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reregulateverb (used with object)
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nonregulatedadjective
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nonregulativeadjective
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quasi-regulatedadjective
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regulativeadjective
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regulatoryadjective
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unregulatedadjective
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unregulativeadjective
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well-regulatedadjective
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regulativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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regulatesimple
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regulatessimple
-
have regulatedperfect
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has regulatedperfect
-
am regulatingprogressive
-
are regulatingprogressive
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is regulatingprogressive
-
have been regulatingperfect progressive
-
has been regulatingperfect progressive
Past
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regulatedsimple
-
had regulatedperfect
-
was regulatingprogressive
-
were regulatingprogressive
-
had been regulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regulate
First recorded in 1620–30, from Late Latin rēgulātus (past participle of rēgulāre “to direct”); see regula, -ate 1
Explanation
The on-off spigot regulates the flow of water into your bathtub. When a government regulates an industry, they set standards the industry must follow. To regulate means to impose control. Regulate shares a root with the word, regular. When the transit authority regulates a train schedule, it makes sure trains arrive on a more regular schedule. The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated –– before a drug can be marketed, it must be tested. On a more personal level, if you want to regulate your digestive system, try eating more fiber... or prunes!
Vocabulary lists containing regulate
Florida EOC Civics
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The Articles of Confederation (1777)
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This Week In Words: September 5–11, 2020
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
To illustrate conduct UC can regulate, Slaughter cited the example of a bully calling a boy “little princess” or “baby girl.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
In a separate screed regarding the need to regulate A.I.,
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
The researchers say this is the first study to show how a natural product made by microbes can work with the body's own response systems to regulate complex molecular and cellular processes during intestinal injury.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
He said the administration has some concerns but wants to regulate smartly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
For if Congress has a power to regulate the conditions of the inhabitants of states, within the states, it will be but another exercise of that power to declare that all shall be free.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
By identifying a biological pathway that directly regulates this inflammation, the new findings suggest that future therapies could potentially target liver inflammation alongside existing treatments focused on weight and liver fat.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
It isn’t yet entirely clear who regulates prediction markets and how, and markets have regularly clashed with state officials trying to rein them in.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
The UK government regulates phthalates as hazardous chemical substances but they are used in cosmetics, fragrances and food packaging.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Takeda Pharmaceutical’s 4502 2.96%increase; up pointing triangle Orzeyful, the first medication to treat narcolepsy by targeting a brain chemical that regulates wakefulness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Why, the law of supply and demand regulates the price of houses.”
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
While ASM mining is regulated in Ghana, many of the local players continue to operate informally, including some mechanized operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Study co-author Alessandro Chiarenza, a paleontologist at University College London, said an internally regulated body temperature could have allowed tyrannosaurs to live in regions where cold-blooded reptiles struggled to survive.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
Even though there are just a few aircraft window-manufacturing firms in existence, it's hard for new competitors to emerge because of how regulated the industry is, adds Stengel.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
A push for landmark US cryptocurrency legislation collapsed on Tuesday after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to bridge months-old differences over ethics, banking and how the fast-growing industry should be regulated.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
I had imbibed from her something of her nature and much of her habits: more harmonious thoughts: what seemed better regulated feelings had become the inmates of my mind.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
The team found that Menin levels fell with age in certain neurons within the ventromedial hypothalamus, an area involved in regulating metabolism.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
He adds that regulating AI proves tricky, as many of the people who understand the technology best are on its payroll.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
In the meantime, Norway's capital Oslo banned the glasses in schools this week as the government mulls regulating their use and considers a ban on features that enable facial recognition in public.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
“Nobody says regulating at the frontier would be easy,” he added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Dr. Gonzagaga reread all the laws regulating androids.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix