governar

Senses

1. 1.

   to govern, to rule

   to exercise political authority over a country, state, or region

2. 2.

   to manage, to run

   to direct or control the affairs of an organization or household

3. 3.

   to control, to guide

   to regulate or influence someone's actions or behavior

Examples

• "O presidente governa o país há quatro anos."

  The president has been governing the country for four years.

• "É difícil governar uma empresa sem experiência."

  It's hard to run a company without experience.

• "Ela não deixa ninguém governar sua vida."

  She doesn't let anyone control her life.

Usage

Regular -ar verb. Common collocations include "governar um país/estado" (govern a country/state), "governar bem/mal" (govern well/badly). In informal contexts, can mean to boss someone around. Often used with direct objects without prepositions.