Illustration of rein
- R rein 1
1
: a strap fastened to a bit by which a rider or driver controls an animal
—usually used in plural
2
a
: a restraining influence : check
kept a tight rein on the proceedings
b
: controlling or guiding power
—usually used in plural
the reins of government
3
: opportunity for unhampered activity or use
gave full rein to her imagination
reined; reining; reins
1
: to control or direct with or as if with reins
2
: to check or stop by or as if by a pull at the reins
reined in her horse
couldn't rein his impatience
1
: to stop or slow up one's horse or oneself by or as if by pulling the reins
2
archaic
: to submit to the use of reins
Synonyms
Examples of rein in a Sentence
Noun
He has people working for him, but he has a tight rein on every part of the process.
after the president resigned, the vice president stepped in and took the reins of the company
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
Between now and 2044 in the US, the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers are expected to hand over the reins of their significant wealth to Millennials, according to The Wealth Report, a periodic report from global property consultant Knight Frank.
—Anna Bahney, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024
Now after coaching three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, Riley hands the reins to Huard.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Recently, Heiko handed the reins of Oak Lane Maple over to urban farmer Nick Lodise and Wyncote Academy, an alternative high school where students boil sap in fancy equipment paid for by a USDA grant, but Heiko’s early days involved a lot of trial and error.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Democrats need to focus on better exposing and grooming their bench of candidates to take over the reins of national leadership, starting with the 2024 presidential election.
—Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024
Every Lunar New Year, a new zodiac animal takes over the reins of fate.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
So Putin’s invasion of Ukraine may have any number of ambitions: to set an example, say, or to keep a tight rein on non-Russian independence movements along the Volga and in the North Caucasus.
—Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
Clark was handed the reins to the Iowa offense almost immediately, averaging almost 27 points as a freshman.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Jason Barlow, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
If artificial intelligence has become the tech Wild West, some new safety features from Microsoft’s Azure are meant to rein it in.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Concerned experts Artificial intelligence researchers, professors and legal experts are concerned about AI’s mass adoption before regulators have the ability or willingness to rein it in.
—Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024
Amid mounting pressure on Israel from Western allies to rein back its campaign against Hamas, Israeli President Isaac Herzog held the line.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023
Johnston, 62, takes the CFO reins as Disney is the midst of several major financial projects.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Nov. 2023
While the ideal reading is less than 120/80 mmHg (the top number is your systolic pressure and the bottom number is your diastolic pressure), BP that lingers above 140/90 mmHg typically requires both medication and lifestyle changes to rein it in, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
—Lauren Del Turco, SELF, 22 Feb. 2024
In that case, the American partner in the couple needs to develop a backbone and show some really tough love to rein Israel in.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2024
Delivery issues Pot deliveries are thriving across California, despite efforts to rein them in.
—Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
The Disney family may have given up the reins of its business decades ago, but there is still no shortage of powerful families in media holding sway.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
Between now and 2044 in the US, the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers are expected to hand over the reins of their significant wealth to Millennials, according to The Wealth Report, a periodic report from global property consultant Knight Frank.
—Anna Bahney, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024
Now after coaching three Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, Riley hands the reins to Huard.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Recently, Heiko handed the reins of Oak Lane Maple over to urban farmer Nick Lodise and Wyncote Academy, an alternative high school where students boil sap in fancy equipment paid for by a USDA grant, but Heiko’s early days involved a lot of trial and error.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
Democrats need to focus on better exposing and grooming their bench of candidates to take over the reins of national leadership, starting with the 2024 presidential election.
—Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024
Every Lunar New Year, a new zodiac animal takes over the reins of fate.
—Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
So Putin’s invasion of Ukraine may have any number of ambitions: to set an example, say, or to keep a tight rein on non-Russian independence movements along the Volga and in the North Caucasus.
—Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024
Clark was handed the reins to the Iowa offense almost immediately, averaging almost 27 points as a freshman.
—Eric Levenson, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Verb
The new Neue Klasse philosophy aims to rein that in whilst also setting out a plan for an entirely new generation of all-electric BMWs—cars that supposedly will reimagine every aspect of the driving and ownership experience.
—Jason Barlow, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
If artificial intelligence has become the tech Wild West, some new safety features from Microsoft’s Azure are meant to rein it in.
—Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Concerned experts Artificial intelligence researchers, professors and legal experts are concerned about AI’s mass adoption before regulators have the ability or willingness to rein it in.
—Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024
Amid mounting pressure on Israel from Western allies to rein back its campaign against Hamas, Israeli President Isaac Herzog held the line.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023
Johnston, 62, takes the CFO reins as Disney is the midst of several major financial projects.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 6 Nov. 2023
While the ideal reading is less than 120/80 mmHg (the top number is your systolic pressure and the bottom number is your diastolic pressure), BP that lingers above 140/90 mmHg typically requires both medication and lifestyle changes to rein it in, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
—Lauren Del Turco, SELF, 22 Feb. 2024
In that case, the American partner in the couple needs to develop a backbone and show some really tough love to rein Israel in.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2024
Delivery issues Pot deliveries are thriving across California, despite efforts to rein them in.
—Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rein.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rein
Cite this Entry
“Rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rein. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rein
1 of 2 noun1
: a line or strap fastened to a bit on each side for controlling an animal (as a horse)
—usually used in plural
2
a
: an influence that slows, limits, or holds back
kept the child under a tight rein
b
: controlling or guiding power
—usually used in plural
seized the reins of government
3
: complete freedom : scope
gave full rein to her imagination
rein
2 of 2 verb
: to check, control, or stop by or as if by reins
reined in the horse
couldn't rein his impatience
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