rule out
Britishverb
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to dismiss from consideration
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to make impossible; preclude or prevent
the rain ruled out outdoor games
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Eliminate from consideration, exclude, as in The option of starting over again has been ruled out . [Second half of 1800s]
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Prevent, make impossible, as in The snowstorm ruled out our weekly rehearsal . [First half of 1900s]
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.
Smart and Hachimura remain day-to-day as they missed their second consecutive games while Ayton was ruled out immediately before the game.
From Los Angeles Times
Researchers had already ruled out stripped stars and neutron stars because observations did not match theoretical predictions.
From Science Daily
Houghton added it was "so clear" that the effort ruled out in the first half should have been allowed to stand.
From BBC
There is also anger at the broadcaster's refusal to rule out replacing some staff with AI.
From BBC
Tiger Woods told reporters Tuesday at Riviera Country Club that he won’t rule out playing in the 2026 Masters despite recovering from October disc replacement surgery.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
