noun
reign
rayn
noun
1
The period of time during which a monarch rules.
"The castle was built during the reign of Henry VIII."
verb
1
To rule as a king, queen, or monarch.
"Queen Victoria reigned for over sixty years."
2
To be the dominant or prevailing force in a place or situation.
"Chaos reigned in the office after the server crashed."
How to Use Reign
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo rule as a monarch, or (more loosely) to dominate a place or moment.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "rein" (a strap for controlling a horse, or "to rein in") or "rain" (water falling from the sky) — all three sound identical.
Common pairings
reign of terror
during her reign
reign supreme
Word Forms
reigned past tense, reigns plural, reigns singular
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The castle was built during the _____ of Henry VIII.
Etymology
From Old French reignier, from Latin rēgnō, related to rēgnum ("kingdom, rule").