Control — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /kən-ˈtrōl/ con·trol

Meaning & Definition of Control

Control (verb)

  1. to exercise restraining or directing influence over, regulate
  2. to have power over, rule
  3. to reduce the incidence or severity of especially to innocuous levels

Control (noun)

  1. an act or instance of controlling; also, power or authority to guide or manage
  2. skill in the use of a tool, instrument, technique, or artistic medium
  3. the regulation of economic activity especially by government directive —usually used in plural

Control (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the right or means to command or control others

    "teachers are responsible for the students under their control"

    similar: arm, authority, clutch, command, death grip, dominion, grip, hold, mastery, power, reign, rein(s), sway
    related: clout, influence, leverage, pull, voice, weight, jurisdiction, direction, management, dominance, imperium, predominance, sovereignty, supremacy, prerogative, privilege, right, eminence, importance, moment
    opposite: impotence, impotency, powerlessness
    near: helplessness, weakness

  2. a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system

    "the controls for the player are well marked"

    similar: controller, regulator
    related: actuator, button, dial, key, knob, lever, push button, selector, switch

  3. the ability to direct the course of something

    "after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control"

    "firefighters keeping control of the blaze"

    similar: grasp, hand(s)
    related: clutch, grip, hold, mastery, arm, command, dominion, helm, sway, authority, domination, jurisdiction, might, power, administration, direction, governance, government, guidance, management, operation, oversight, regulation, running, superintendence, supervision
    near: helplessness, weakness, impotence, impotency, powerlessness

  4. the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something

    "control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas"

    similar: administration, care, charge, conduct, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision
    related: generalship, leadership, rulership, agency, aegis, custody, guardianship, keeping, lap, protection, safekeeping, trust, tutelage, ward, engineering, logistics, machination, manipulation, coadministration, codirection, comanagement

  5. the fact or state of having (something) at one's disposal

    "took control of the process of selecting candidates for the scholarship"

    similar: enjoyment, hands, keeping, possession
    related: ownership, proprietorship, authority, command, dominion, mastery, power, repossession, retention, claiming, collaring, commandeering, confiscation, procurement
    opposite: nonpossession
    near: dispossession, relinquishment, surrendering, transferal

Control (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)

    "you must learn to control your temper"

    similar: bridle, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame
    related: bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow, arrest, interrupt, stop, block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct, gag, muzzle, silence
    opposite: lose
    near: liberate, loose, loosen, unleash, air, express, take out, vent

  2. to gain emotional or mental control of

    "he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks"

    similar: calm, collect, compose, contain, re-collect, settle
    related: hold back, restrain, rally, recover, lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize

  3. to exercise authority or power over

    "circumstances often control the choices we make in life"

    similar: boss, captain, command, govern, preside (over), rule, sway (archaic)
    related: conduct, direct, head, lead, administer, manage, micromanage, oversee, regulate, superintend, supervise, dictate, dominate, domineer, lord (it over), master, oppress, reign (over), tyrannize, conquer, subdue, subjugate

  4. to look after and make decisions about

    "during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable"

    similar: administer, administrate, carry on, conduct, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over
    related: care (for), mind, watch, lead, pilot, steer, guard, protect, safeguard, micromanage, stage-manage, codirect, comanage

Related Entry: Self-control (noun)

Self-control is a different word from Control. The synonyms below are for self-control, not for control.

  1. the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions

    "toddlers have very little self-control"

    similar: continence, restraint, self-command, self-containment, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, self-possession, self-restraint, will, willpower
    related: self-abnegation, self-denial, moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness, determination, nerve, command, control, discipline, mastery, abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance, abstinence, soberness, sobriety, aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-confidence, discretion
    near: gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence, excessiveness, immoderacy, intemperance, intemperateness, overindulgence, demerit, failing, fault, feebleness, foible, frailty, shortcoming, vice, weakness, indiscipline, unconstraint, unreserve, unreservedness, unrestraint

  2. the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others

    "she could be passionate and intense, but generally exercised steely self-control in the company of strangers"

    similar: constraint, continence, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, repression, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-restraint, suppression
    related: command, control, mastery, possession, self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower, composure, self-poise, self-possession, aloofness, detachedness, distance, bashfulness, modesty, shyness, reticence, silence, taciturnity
    opposite: disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint
    near: self-abandonment, uninhibitedness, unrestrainedness, gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence, bluntness, candor, frankness, immoderacy, intemperance

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Control

The most common words with a similar meaning to Control:

Archaic: sway
arm, authority, clutch, command, death grip, dominion, grip, hold, mastery, power, reign, rein(s), controller, regulator, grasp, hand(s), administration, care, charge, conduct, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision, enjoyment, hands, keeping, possession

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Control

Words with the opposite meaning of Control:

impotence, impotency, powerlessness, nonpossession, lose

Related Words for Control

clout, influence, leverage, pull, voice, weight, jurisdiction, dominance, imperium, predominance, sovereignty, supremacy, prerogative, privilege, right, eminence, importance, moment, actuator, button, dial, key, knob, lever, push button, selector, switch, helm, domination, might

Near Antonyms of Control

helplessness, weakness, dispossession, relinquishment, surrendering, transferal, liberate, loose, loosen, unleash, air, express, take out, vent

Word Forms of Control

Inflections: controlled, controlling

Derived words: controllability (noun), controllable (adjective), controlment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Control

Middle English countrollen, from Anglo-French contrerouler, from contreroule copy of an account, audit, from Medieval Latin contrarotulus, from Latin contra- + Medieval Latin rotulus roll roll

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Control

Words & Phrases Containing Control

control experiment, control freak, control key, control rod, control surface, adaptive cruise control, air traffic control, animal control

Frequently Asked Questions about Control

What does "Control" mean?

"Control" means to exercise restraining or directing influence over, regulate. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to exercise restraining or directing influence over, regulate. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Control"?

Other words for "Control" include arm, authority, clutch, command, death grip, dominion, grip and hold. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Control" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Control"?

There are 197 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Control". Common alternatives include arm, authority, clutch, command, death grip, dominion, grip, hold, mastery and power.

What is the opposite of "Control"?

Antonyms of "Control" include impotence, impotency, powerlessness, nonpossession and lose. Near antonyms include helplessness, weakness, dispossession and relinquishment.

How do you use "Control" in a sentence?

Examples of "Control" in a sentence: "teachers are responsible for the students under their control"; "the controls for the player are well marked"; "after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control".

Is "Control" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Control" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Control" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Control" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Control"?

"Control" is pronounced /kən-ˈtrōl/ and divided into syllables as con·trol.