To govern means to control, manage, or direct something according to rules or principles. When leaders govern a country, they make laws, enforce them, and guide how society functions. A student council governs school activities by setting policies about events and clubs. Parents govern their household by establishing rules about bedtimes, chores, and screen time.

Just as a captain steers a vessel through changing conditions, those who govern guide their organization, community, or nation through challenges and decisions.

Govern can also describe how principles or laws control something. We say that gravity governs how objects fall, or that certain rules govern how a game is played. When you govern your own behavior, you control your impulses and actions. A well-governed classroom runs smoothly because students and teachers follow clear expectations.

The word government refers to the system or group of people who govern. A governor leads a state government. When something is ungovernable, it cannot be controlled or managed effectively, like a completely chaotic classroom where no one listens to the rules.