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.
OpenAI is pausing some activities involving an upcoming artificial-intelligence model, Astra, after internal evaluations led the company to conclude it “cannot rule out critical cyber capabilities,” the company said in a blog post on Friday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Jenrick said: "He won't, he can't, he will not rule out a death tax."
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said in a statement he was "saddened" by the band's decision and that success in the Asian category did not rule out wins for other headline awards.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
I have to do more blood work, or lumbar punctures, to rule out meningitis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Because Charles valued Gray’s friendship and needed his help in promoting natural selection, he did not rule out the possibility.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
