control
Very High (C2)Neutral; used across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
The power to influence, direct, or command people, things, or a situation.
A device or mechanism used to operate a machine or system; a person or group used as a standard of comparison in scientific experiments; the restraint of emotions or impulses.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word covers domains of power (social control), regulation (traffic control), restraint (self-control), and operation (remote control). Its meaning shifts from abstract (authority) to concrete (a button).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling in derivative 'controlled/controlling' (double 'l' in British English is standard, but US also accepts it). No major syntactic or semantic differences.
Connotations
Largely identical. In political contexts, 'control' may have a slightly stronger association with state authority in UK usage.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
control + NP (control the crowd)control + wh-clause (control how much you spend)BE + under + control (The fire is under control)HAVE + control + over + NP (have control over the budget)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be out of control”
- “control freak”
- “beyond one's control”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to management authority, cost control, quality control procedures.
Academic
Often used for experimental control groups, variables, and statistical control.
Everyday
Used for remote controls, self-control, and controlling children/pets.
Technical
In engineering: control systems, control theory, flight controls.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government struggled to control the spread of the virus.
- Try to control your temper during the meeting.
American English
- She learned to control the drone with her smartphone.
- The software controls all the building's security systems.
adverb
British English
- The system is controllably slow. (rare)
American English
- The valve can be turned controllably. (rare)
adjective
British English
- He pressed the control button to pause the machine.
- The control sample was kept in a separate lab.
American English
- The control panel is on the right side.
- We need a control group for the experiment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children are noisy, but the teacher has control.
- Use the remote control to change the channel.
- She lost control of the car on the icy road.
- Parents need to control how much time kids spend online.
- The new manager took control of the department and improved efficiency.
- Scientists use a control group to validate their results.
- The central bank intervened to control the volatility of the currency.
- His iron-fisted control over the company stifled all innovation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car's CONTROLS: you CONtrol the wheel to TROLLey the car where you want.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS HOLDING/HAVING (grasp control, lose your grip); CONTROL IS UP (high-level control, under control).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'контроль' for every sense; e.g., 'remote control' is 'пульт', not 'дистанционный контроль'. 'Self-control' is 'самообладание', not 'самоконтроль' in emotional contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She made control on the project.' Correct: 'She took control of the project.'
- Incorrect preposition: 'under the control' (often redundant 'the').
Practice
Quiz
In an experiment, what is the purpose of a 'control'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable (e.g., 'She has little control'). It becomes countable when referring to specific devices or switches (e.g., 'The controls are on the dashboard').
'Control' implies ongoing authority, direction, or restraint. 'Check' implies a momentary verification or stopping of progress (e.g., 'check your work', 'check the spread').
It's an adjective phrase meaning 'managed or restrained'. Use it after 'be', 'get', 'have', or 'bring'. E.g., 'The firefighter got the blaze under control.'
Rarely and usually incorrectly. The standard prepositions are 'of' (control of a vehicle), 'over' (control over a situation), and 'under' (be under control).