The words rein, reign and rain are pronounced in the same way, but have very different meanings. This article looks at how each word is used.
rein
Reins is usually a plural noun.
Reins are the thin leather straps attached round a horse’s neck which are used to control the horse.
Rein is also used in several set phrases. For example:
The government believed it should give free rein to the private sector in transport.
The company has kept a tight rein on costs.
Her parents had kept her on a tight rein with their narrow and inflexible views.
The phrasal verbs rein in and rein back are also used.
- To rein in something means to control it.
His administration’s economic policy would focus on reining in inflation.
Mary spoiled both her children, then tried too late to rein them in.
If you rein in a horse, you stop it or cause it to go more slowly by pulling its reins.
The horsemen reined in and shouted at the men behind to turn back.
Mrs Glick reined in the horse and stopped at the crossroads.
The government would try to rein back inflation.
reign
Reign is a verb.
- When a king or queen reigns, he or she rules a country.
.Henry II reigned from 1154 to 1189.
- If you say, for example, that silence reigns in a place or confusion reigns in a situation, you mean that the place is silent or the situation is confused. [written]
Confusion reigned about how the debate would end.
A relative calm reigned over the city.
rain
Rain is an uncountable noun.
Rain is water that falls from the clouds in small drops.
I hope you didn’t get soaked standing out in the rain.
A spot of rain fell on her hand.
You can also use rain as a verb.
It rained the whole weekend.
It was raining hard, and she hadn’t an umbrella.
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