English · Word Candidate

reign

/ɹeɪn/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: reigns · reigning · reigned

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The exercise of sovereign power.

Noun

England prospered under Elizabeth I's reign.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

The period during which a monarch rules.

Noun

The reign of Victoria was a long one.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To exercise sovereign power, to rule as a monarch.

Verb

He reigned in an autocratic manner.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To be the winner of the most recent iteration of a competition.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “reign” mean?

The exercise of sovereign power.

Is “reign” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.