control

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/kənˈtrəʊl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/kənˈtroʊl/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(kən trōl)

Inflections of 'control' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
controls
v 3rd person singular
controlling
v pres p
controlled
v past
controlled
v past p
WordReference Collins English Usage © 2025
control
Control can be a verb or a noun.
used as a verb
If someone controls something such as a country or an organization, they have the power to take all the important decisions about the way it is run.
The Australian government at that time controlled the island.
His family had controlled the company for more than a century.
When control is a verb, it is not followed by a preposition.
used as a noun
Control is also used as a noun to refer to the power that someone has in a country or organization. You say that someone has control of a country or organization, or control over it.
Mr Ronson gave up control of the company.
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the area.
another meaning
Control is used as a noun to refer to a place where your documents and luggage are officially checked when you enter a foreign country.
I went through passport control into the departure lounge.
Don't use control as a verb to mean ‘check’ or ‘inspect’. Don't say, for example, ‘My luggage was controlled’. You say ‘My luggage was checked’ or ‘My luggage was inspected’.
I had to wait while the baggage was being checked.
The guard took his ID card and inspected it.
'control' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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