Definition of control - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
operationoperate a machine or system
- He can control the drone with his smartphone.
2.
influenceexercise influence over or dictate behavior
- She knows how to control her team effectively.
3.
decidemake decisions about an organization or place
- The board controls the company's strategic direction.
4.
behavior limitshold in check or restrain
- He struggled to control his anger during the meeting.
5.
quality testingTECH. verify or regulate by comparison with a standard or modelTECH.
- Control samples were used to ensure accuracy.
6.
scienceTECH. design an experiment to reduce variable effectsTECH.
- Scientists control for variables in their research.
Noun
1.
authoritypower to direct or determine actions or decisions
- The manager has control over the team's budget.
2.
self-disciplineability to restrain one's emotions or actions
- She showed great control during the heated debate.
3.
regulationrestriction of an activity, tendency, or phenomenon
- The government imposed strict controls on smoking in public areas.
4.
technologydevice used to operate a machine, vehicle, or system
- He adjusted the volume using the remote control.
5.
experimentTECH. standard for comparison in scientific experimentsTECH.
- The control group received a placebo.
Images of control

device used to operate a machine, vehicle, or system
Expressions with control
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not causing any immediate concern
The patient's condition is under control.
person with obsessive need to control events
She is a control freak about her wedding plans.
actions taken to limit negative effects of a problem
The company engaged in damage control after the scandal broke.
not manageable or under control
The party got outta control after midnight.
not able to be controlled by someone
The delay was beyond his control.
wildly unrestrained or violent
The party got out of control after midnight.
have authority over financial decisions
The finance committee controls the purse strings of the organization.
control something with great precision and ease
She can have fingertip control over the aircraft's movements.
having authority over a situation or task
She is in control of the entire project.
device used to operate appliances from a distance
He lost the remote control for the TV.
unable to be managed or directed
The wildfire spread rapidly, becoming beyond control.
methods to prevent pregnancy using contraception
She decided to use birth control to plan her family.
pill with hormones to prevent pregnancy
She started taking the birth control pill last month.
stay calm and not get angry
She tried to control her temper during the heated argument.
computer screen interface with various options
She navigated through the control panel to change the settings.
complete power to decide and direct something without limits
She had full control of the project after the reorganization.
manage or keep something from getting out of hand
She has the project under control now.
having authority or power over something
The manager is in control of the entire department.
fail to maintain power or influence over something
The manager began to lose control over the team's decisions.
area where passports are checked
We waited in line at passport control for an hour.
service that removes unwanted pests
We called pest control to handle the ants.
practice of managing food serving sizes
Portion control is essential for effective weight loss.
ability to control one's emotions and desires
He showed great self-control during the heated debate.
device or software to adjust sound level
Use the volume control to lower the music.
Origin of control
Latin, contrarotulare (to check)
Terms with control included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
vehicle operation
control and guide the movement of a vehicle
transportation
sit on and control a horse or vehicle
technology
by a machine or system without human control
technology
control on a device that is pressed to operate it
border control
process of checking goods at a border
independence
not under the control or power of another
control
firm hold or grasp on something
traffic control
traffic signal that controls vehicle movement
technology
hand-held device for computer control
control level
position of a control or knob
fluid control
device controlling fluid flow from a pipe
climate control
system for controlling temperature and humidity indoors
transfer
give control or possession to someone else
nature
existing naturally without human control
choice control
responsibility or decision belongs to a specific person
self-operating
operating by itself without human control
intimidation
act of intimidating someone repeatedly to exert control
behavior
out of control or chaotic
controls
control knob for adjusting settings
alcohol
intoxicated with alcohol, losing control of functions
freedom
get free from confinement or control
freedom act
act of getting free from confinement or control
steer
control the movement of a vehicle or object
management
manage or control a situation or task
Examples of control in a sentence
They control the traffic lights from a central office. He can control the outcome of the negotiations. They tried to control the spread of misinformation. She controls the budget for the entire department. The mayor controls the city's public services. She tried to control the spread of rumors.
They need to control the budget more effectively. Technicians control the temperature to maintain consistency. You need to control the variables in the experiment. The team controlled for age in the survey. Researchers must control for temperature during testing. The CEO has control over company policies. Control of the project was given to the new leader. Maintaining control in stressful situations is crucial. He lost control and shouted at everyone. There are controls on the use of this software. The new law includes controls on emissions. The control panel was full of buttons and switches. He lost the control for the TV. Researchers compared the results with the control. Without a control, the experiment's validity was questioned.
View all translations of control
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:contrôler, contrôle, ...
- German:steuern, Kontrolle, ...
- Italian:controllare, controllo, ...
- Spanish:controlar, control, ...
- Portuguese:controlar, controle, ...
- Chinese:操控, 控制权, ...
- Japanese:操作する, 管理権, ...
- Arabic:تَحَكَّمَ, سَيْطَرَة, ...
- Hebrew:לְהַפְעִיל, שְׁלִיטָה, ...
- Russian:управлять, контроль, ...
- Ukrainian:керувати, контроль, ...
- Hindi:चलाना, नियंत्रण, ...
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