rule
noun
a principle or regulation governing conduct, action, procedure, arrangement, etc..
had ruled
-
past perfectof rule.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
President Jimmy Carter declined to play host to the last member of a family dynasty that had ruled Nicaragua for 40 years.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
The judge had ruled in early August that Hernandez could remain free while on trial.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
When asked if he had ruled out escalation, Waltz responded: “I wouldn’t go that far at all. The president is keeping all options on the table.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
He was finally extradited to the US in January 2024, more than a year after the court had ruled that he was indeed Nicholas Rossi.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
That’s partly why Theo and I had ruled out the Dannenberg family.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
