ruler

[ roo-ler ]

/ ˈru lər /

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See synonyms for: ruler / rulers on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who rules or governs; sovereign.

Also rule. a strip of wood, metal, or other material having a straight edge and usually marked off in inches or centimeters, used for drawing lines, measuring, etc.

a person or thing that rules paper, wood, etc.

Astrology. the planet primarily associated with any sign of the zodiac or any house of the horoscope: The ruler of Aries is Mars. The ruler of Taurus is Venus.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of ruler

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at rule, -er¹

OTHER WORDS FROM ruler

sub·rul·er, nounun·der·rul·er, noun

Words nearby ruler

rule of law, rule of the road, rule of three, rule of thumb, rule out, ruler, rulership, Rules, rules committee, rules of order, rule the roost

How to use ruler in a sentence

It was a way to show that they were the proper kind of gentlemen to be your rulers.
Not all presidents’ dance skills are created equal|Bonnie Berkowitz, Joanne Lee|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Whether you need a basic set for school or a more advanced set for professional designing - it is clear that rulers are an important tool that you don’t outgrow.
The best rulers for home, office, and school|PopSci Commerce Team|January 8, 2021|Popular-Science
It may be surprising just how many options you have when it comes to the simple ruler.
The best rulers for home, office, and school|PopSci Commerce Team|January 8, 2021|Popular-Science
Trotsky contended that Stalin as ruler was simply a spokesman for the oppressive state bureaucracy.
Did Stalin’s rise to power foretell the butchery that came next?|Robert Service|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

It features two ribbon placeholders, an expandable pocket, and a sturdy sewn-in pen holder and comes with a flat, 15-centimeter ruler and colorful tabs to bookmark important lists, notes, and more.
These notebooks are excellent gifts|PopSci Commerce Team|September 28, 2020|Popular-Science
How will we know if Kim, when he eventually surfaces, is ruler or figurehead?
Kim Jong Un: Erased?|Gordon G. Chang|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He wanted peace and harmony, and in this respect he was just another Roman ruler interested in imperial unity.
Plotting Nicea III Could Be Pope Francis's Masterstroke|Candida Moss|June 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone “who has authority of the sword, is the ruler of a city, or wears the purple” has to resign his job or leave.
St. Hippolytus’ Careers Christians Should Never Have|Candida Moss|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Bible makes this out to be a matter of popular acclaim, the people lining up to have David as their ruler.
The King David You Never Knew|Joel Baden|October 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Like a paranoid ruler, it only trusts what it can directly control.
Obamacare’s Rollout Is a Disaster That Didn’t Have to Happen|Gregory Ferenstein|October 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Renounce the good law of the worshippers of Mazda, and thou shalt gain such a boon as the Murderer gained, the ruler of nations.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
Murat was in no hurry to commence his reign, and his subjects showed no great anxiety to see their new ruler.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The deposed ruler plotted and planned all kinds of schemes whereby he might be restored to his old position of authority.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
“Confound it, no;” rejoined Mr. Simmery, stopping for an instant to smash a fly with the ruler.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
Gascony has ever been the mother of ambitious men, and many a ruler has she supplied to France.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for ruler

ruler

/ (ˈruːlə) /

noun

a person who rules or commands

Also called: rule a strip of wood, metal, or other material, having straight edges graduated usually in millimetres or inches, used for measuring and drawing straight lines

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ruler

Origin of ruler

OTHER WORDS FROM ruler

Words nearby ruler

Words related to ruler

How to use ruler in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ruler