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.
“While we cannot entirely rule out the risk of a surprise hike, current market pricing looks too high,” says senior U.S. economist Xiao Cui in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
I have to do more blood work, or lumbar punctures, to rule out meningitis.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Police said on Monday there was currently nothing to link the two incidents, but they did not rule out a connection.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Dr. Ghasemi says the findings do not rule out concerns that governments and companies may focus on consumer behavior to avoid responsibility for larger structural reforms.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
But since there was no reason to rule out the participation of specific enzymes, I saw no need to be unduly disturbed.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
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.
