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
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
Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
TelevisaUnivision has been working to bolster its balance sheet after Alegre took its corporate reins of TelevisaUnivision from Wade Davis, the former Viacom CFO who orchestrated a buyout of Univision in 2020 before merging it with Mexico’s Grupo Televisa in 2022, ceded his CEO role to him.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Short of Donald Trump and the United States, there is no one around to rein Putin in and prevent World War III, as witnessed by Putin’s latest aggression against neighboring Poland, a NATO-member country.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rein
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Noun
Lutnick handed the reins of the company to his 27-year-old son, and his other son also works at Cantor.
—Melanie Hicken, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
TelevisaUnivision has been working to bolster its balance sheet after Alegre took its corporate reins of TelevisaUnivision from Wade Davis, the former Viacom CFO who orchestrated a buyout of Univision in 2020 before merging it with Mexico’s Grupo Televisa in 2022, ceded his CEO role to him.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
And to get both Tillman and Pulisic on the field along with Tim Weah, Pochettino would probably have to either take McKennie off or rein him in.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Short of Donald Trump and the United States, there is no one around to rein Putin in and prevent World War III, as witnessed by Putin’s latest aggression against neighboring Poland, a NATO-member country.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rein
Cite this Entry
“Rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rein. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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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