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.
This ruled out the Laacher See eruption as the source of the Greenland platinum spike.
From Science Daily
Before the conflict began, analysts had predicted a cut in the Bank rate at this meeting, but upheaval in the markets and a higher oil price have all but ruled out such a move.
From BBC
The Fed’s decision, which was in line with expectations, likely ruled out a worst-case scenario for investors.
From Barron's
She said vaccines held by the government would be used for NHS patients, including students in Kent, but it would not rule out supplying some to pharmacies.
From BBC
However, Hill said the government has not entirely ruled out allowing tech companies to use copyrighted content to train AI models without a license.
From BBC
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.