reigning

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reigning" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who is currently holding a position of power or authority, often in a royal or leadership context. Example: "The reigning champion of the tournament has proven to be unbeatable this season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Add jittery electronic beats, Björk's powerful voice and a string section, and you've just about got a sense of the latest album from Iceland's reigning queen of experimental pop.

The Guardian - Music

Lindo says: "With this year signifying the Queen's entry into the record books as the world's longest reigning monarch, it would be fitting to mark the occasion with the announcement of Britain's first official national bird – especially if it's the swan".

The Guardian

Essendon stunned Hawthorn with a gutsy display of pressure football propelling them to a thrilling two-point win over the reigning premiers at the MCG.

The Guardian - Sport

As Brazil's goalkeeper, he was a reigning South American champion, having won the Copa América the previous year, beating Paraguay 7-0 in the final.

The Guardian - Sport

Chandler's programme is a reigning RTS award-winner, but such trifles are likely to be far less important than whether candidates get on with Richard Desmond – enthusiasm for his lottery and for antique rock music is advised, as well as using the word "digi" whenever possible, and jokes at the expense of Martin Sorrell and Alan Sugar should go down well.

The Guardian

That's a bold statement, but the bald stats back it up: Alistair, the reigning world champion, has won 12 of the 15 world series races he has entered since 2009, while Jonny, the No2 in the world, has finished in the top three in his last 13 races at elite level – winning six of them.

The Guardian - Sport

The reigning German, European and World champions have come to intimidate their domestic rivals to such an extent that some of them have virtually come to wonder why they bother.

The Guardian - Sport

It is thought Delph, Villa's reigning player of the year who signed from Leeds United for £8m in 2009, becomes the club's highest earner on £55,000 a week in a deal that takes him to June 2019.

The Guardian - Sport

And if the two meet again in the final – most likely England will now have to get past the reigning champions New Zealand in the semis – the match will be one of the must-see events of the week.

The Guardian - Sport

Elizabeth will become the longest reigning British monarch on 9 September, passing the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years, or 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes, to be precise.

The Guardian

But McDowell, the reigning United States Open champ and one of Woods's more than 721,000 followers, noted on Tuesday that Woods "doesn't put too much out there to follow".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reigning" when you want to emphasize the current authority or dominance of a person, team, or concept. It adds a sense of established power and continuity.

Common error

Avoid using "reigning" to describe potential or future leaders or champions. "Reigning" implies a current, established position, so use terms like "potential", "future", or "aspiring" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reigning" is as an adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun currently holds a position of authority or dominance. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in this way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "reigning" functions as an adjective indicating current authority or dominance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its frequency is "very common", particularly in "News & Media" and "Sport", with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. When using "reigning", ensure it accurately reflects a current position and avoid misapplication in hypothetical scenarios. Remember it can be replaced by other alternatives according the semantic context such as "current" or "ruling".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ruling

Similar to "reigning", but can also refer to a decision or judgment made by an authority. It emphasizes the act of governing or controlling.

incumbent

Specifically refers to someone currently holding an office or position, often in a political or organizational context. It's more formal and specific than "reigning".

in power

Directly indicates that someone or something has control or authority. It's less formal and more straightforward than "reigning".

current

Focuses on the present time, indicating something that is happening or existing now. It's less specific about the nature of the position or status.

leading

Focuses on being at the forefront or in charge. It emphasizes direction and influence more than the formal holding of a position.

present

Similar to "current", highlighting the state of being in existence or operation at the moment. It's a more general term.

dominant

Highlights the aspect of power and influence. While "reigning" implies holding a position, "dominant" stresses the control exerted.

on the throne

Specifically refers to a monarch or someone in a position of royal authority. It's more literal and less applicable to other contexts.

existing

Emphasizes the fact that something is in existence now. It's less about the position or power held and more about simple presence.

prevailing

Indicates something that is widespread or generally accepted at the moment. It can refer to opinions, conditions, or trends.

FAQs

How is "reigning" used in a sentence?

"Reigning" is typically used as an adjective before a noun to describe someone or something currently holding a title, position, or status. For example, "the reigning champion" or "the reigning monarch".

What words are similar to "reigning"?

Similar words include "current", "incumbent", "dominant", or "ruling". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the reigning future champion"?

No, "reigning" implies a current position, while "future" refers to something that has not yet happened. This creates a contradiction. Use alternatives like "the "potential champion"" or "the "aspiring champion"" instead.

Can "reigning" be used outside of sports and politics?

Yes, while often used in sports and politics, "reigning" can be used in other contexts to describe something currently holding a dominant or leading position. For example, "the reigning technology" or "the reigning theory".