# reign

/ˈɹeɪn/ (US) · /ɹˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reign
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to rule as a monarch

verb · CEFR B2

to rule a country as a king, queen, or emperor.

For teachers: to exercise sovereign power or serve as the titular head of a nation.

- Queen Victoria reigned over the British Empire for more than sixty years.
- Although the monarch reigned for several decades, the actual administrative power resided with the parliament and the prime minister.

Usage: The verb is intransitive and often followed by the preposition 'over'.

### 2. to be the main quality

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to be the most common or important feeling or situation in a place.

For teachers: to be the predominant or prevailing quality, emotion, or condition in a specific environment.

- Silence reigned in the library as everyone focused on their books.
- Confusion reigned throughout the capital following the sudden announcement of the currency devaluation.

### 3. period of rule

noun · CEFR B2

the period of time during which a king or queen rules a country.

For teachers: the duration of a monarch's rule or the period during which a particular influence is dominant.

- The museum has many beautiful objects from the reign of King Henry VIII.
- Historians often characterise his reign as a golden age of scientific discovery and artistic patronage.

## Examples

- The queen's reign lasted for over sixty years.
- The team's long reign as league champions finally ended when their star player retired last season.
- Historians often debate whether the emperor's reign was defined more by his ambitious architectural projects or by the administrative reforms that stabilised the borders for a century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.