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
Verb
try to rein in your spending, so you have some money left for saving
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Lenora Brown, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
The risk of loosening the reins is the resurgence of separatist violence, which has declined in recent years.
—Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
Jordan Pearson, WIRED, 1 July 2024
The crime wave has not gone without notice, or proper efforts to rein it in, in county and city of Los Angeles government and law enforcement circles.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for rein 
Noun
By the mid-1970s, however, the reins were loosening.
—Ryan Lenora Brown, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 June 2024
The risk of loosening the reins is the resurgence of separatist violence, which has declined in recent years.
—Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
Verb
Photograph: Jemal Countess/Getty Images As if Big Tech weren’t powerful enough already, recent decisions by the Supreme Court will give some of the most valuable companies in the world more latitude to undermine the government’s ability to rein them in, according to legal experts WIRED spoke to.
—Jordan Pearson, WIRED, 1 July 2024
The crime wave has not gone without notice, or proper efforts to rein it in, in county and city of Los Angeles government and law enforcement circles.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for rein
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 7 Jul. 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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