rule of thumb
noun phrase
1
: a method of procedure based on experience and common sense
2
: a general principle regarded as roughly correct but not intended to be scientifically accurate
Examples of rule of thumb in a Sentence
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Most manufacturers will label what size bathroom a unit is rated for, but a good rule of thumb is to have at least 1 cfm (cubic feet per minute) for each square foot in the bathroom.
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Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2025
Should curtains touch the floor, or is there another rule of thumb to keep in mind?
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 1 May 2025
Johnson said a good rule of thumb is to avoid caffeine after 2 p.m.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2025
There’s a rule of thumb that adding 100 grams to a shoe worsens running economy by about 1 percent, so this 82-gram reduction accounts for about 0.8 percent of the Fast-R3’s advantage.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 2025
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Molly Blanco, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2025
Should curtains touch the floor, or is there another rule of thumb to keep in mind?
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 1 May 2025
Johnson said a good rule of thumb is to avoid caffeine after 2 p.m.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 25 Apr. 2025
There’s a rule of thumb that adding 100 grams to a shoe worsens running economy by about 1 percent, so this 82-gram reduction accounts for about 0.8 percent of the Fast-R3’s advantage.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rule of thumb
Cite this Entry
“Rule of thumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rule%20of%20thumb. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
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