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.
“I can no longer rule out rate hikes further down the road if inflation does not abate soon,” he added.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
In a meeting with employees a few weeks ago, Gale, the chief people officer, didn’t rule out the possibility of future layoffs beyond this week’s.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
"Fundamental factors" remain to be resolved, Nim said, adding "I would not even rule out an interest rate hike which squarely targets future inflation".
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
This helped researchers rule out competing theories, including the idea that the material came from older supernova explosions that slowly faded over millions of years.
From Science Daily • May 14, 2026
I can rule out the rings, at least.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
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.
