reign

[[t]re͟ɪn[/t]]

reigns, reigning, reigned

1) VERB If you say, for example, that silence reigns in a place or confusion reigns in a situation, you mean that the place is silent or the situation is confused.

Last night confusion reigned about how the debate, which continues today, would end...

[V over n] A relative calm reigned over the city.

2) VERB When a king or queen reigns, he or she rules a country.

...Henry II, who reigned from 1154 to 1189.

[V-ing] ...George III, Britain's longest reigning monarch.

N-COUNT: with poss

Reign is also a noun.

...Queen Victoria's reign.

3) VERB If you say that a person reigns in a situation or area, you mean that they are very powerful or successful.

Connors reigned as the world No. 1 for 159 consecutive weeks...

[V over n] Coco Chanel reigned over fashion for half a century.

N-COUNT: with poss

Reign is also a noun.

...a new book celebrating 21 years of Giles Havergal's reign as artistic director of the Citizens' Theatre.

4) PHRASE: V inflects Someone or something that reigns supreme is the most important or powerful element in a situation or period of time.

The bicycle reigned supreme as Britain's most popular mode of transport...

Senator Sam Nunn reigns supreme over the Senate Armed Services Committee.

5) PHRASE A reign of terror is a period during which there is a lot of violence and killing, especially by people who are in a position of power.

The commanders accused him of carrying out a reign of terror.