From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreignreign1 /reɪn/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 PGOthe period when someone is king, queen, or emperorreign of changes that took place during Charlemagne’s reign the reign of James I2 the period when someone is in charge of an organization, team etc during his reign at the Education Department3 PERIOD OF TIMEa period during which something is the most powerful or most important feature of a placereign of the reign of Stalinism in Russia4 → reign of terror
Examples from the Corpus
reign• But he will be given free reign over the selection and training of his team.• A higher synthesis, one ushering in a new reign of peace and harmony, under a benign and ever just science.• One explanation, at least, can be dismissed: Gloucester was not reacting against his position in the previous reign.• They say that relics of Hitler's reign should be destroyed, not sold for profit.• That's the view of the man who signed many of the cheques during Souness's reign at Rangers.• Important reforms were initiated during the reign of Nicholas II.• It was a struggle which came to a head in the reign of Edward the Confessor, which began in 1042.• In one significant way, it is true, the reign of Joseph marked a distinct break with the past.• the reign of Henry VIII• James ended Woodson's six-year reign as driving champion last night.reignreign2 ●○○ verb [intransitive] 1 PGOto rule a nation or group of nations as their king, queen, or emperor George VI reigned from 1936 to 1952.reign over Pharaohs reigned over Egypt for centuries.2 literaryIMPORTANT if a feeling or quality reigns, it exists strongly for a period of time For several minutes confusion reigned. Silence reigned while we waited for news.3 → reigning champion4 → reign supreme→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
reign• In the cities and towns now, a hideous vulgarity reigned.• If he died on 14 December 705 he would have reigned a full twenty years and probably several months as well.• The meritocracy that reigned among students thus functioned hardly at all within the faculty.• Robert II reigned for 19 years and died in Dundonald Castle on 13th May, 1390.• King George VI reigned from 1936 to 1952.• Hyperinflation reigned in Argentina during the 1980s.• Isolationism reigned in the Congress, reflecting a national mood.• Similar panic was reigning in the kitchens.• Penda was king from 633 to 655, but it is not known who had reigned over the Mercians in the period before.• The wide-cut style still reigns supreme over slimmer styles, and are easier to wear.• And it is not only in Washington that this belief reigns supreme.• The last Moorish king reigned there until 1492.• For he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet.confusion reigned• And it was true, as Christians never tired of pointing out, that a painful spiritual confusion reigned.• Meanwhile, confusion reigned at Barnet yesterday just as the club seemed to have got over its recent problems.• But confusion reigned over the idea of the menstrual cycle.Origin reign1 (1200-1300) Old French regne, from Latin regnum, from rex “king” 