Dictionary.com

ruling

[ roo-ling ]
/ ˈru lɪŋ /
Save This Word!

noun
an authoritative decision, as one by a judge on a debated point of law.
the act of drawing straight lines with a ruler.
ruled lines.
adjective
governing or dominating: the ruling party.
controlling; predominating: the ruling factor in recovery from an illness.
widespread; prevalent: ruling prices; ruling values.
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…

Origin of ruling

1175–1225; Middle English (gerund); see rule, -ing1, -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM ruling

non·rul·ing, noun, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ruling in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ruling

ruling
/ (ˈruːlɪŋ) /

noun
a decision of someone in authority, such as a judge
one or more parallel ruled lines
adjective
controlling or exercising authoritythe ruling classes
prevalent or predominant
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
FEEDBACK