rut

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: a periodic and often annually recurring state of certain male animals (such as deer or elk) during which behavior associated with the urge to breed is displayed
2
: the period of time during which rut occurs : breeding season

rut

2 of 4

verb (1)

rutted; rutting

intransitive verb

: to be in or enter into a state of rut

rut

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
a
: a track worn by a wheel or by habitual passage
b
: a groove in which something runs
2
: a usual or fixed practice
especially : a monotonous routine
fall easily into a conversational rut

rut

4 of 4

verb (2)

rutted; rutting

transitive verb

: to make a rut in : furrow

Examples of rut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
How does a team with most of its players back from the 2023 Final Four roster find itself in this rut? Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Exciting news frees you from a creative rut as Mercury and Uranus harmonize. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Bucks often sustain head injuries while fighting during the rut, and are therefore more likely to contract this deer disease. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024 The 4:05 rut contributed to the team digging itself into a 6-2 hole less than four minutes into the game. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 But that early gleam of promise gradually fades as Criminal Record settles into its rut. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2024 What do owe you a struggling friend who is stuck in a rut? Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 With Bianca Belair still stuck in a temporary rut, everybody not named Becky Lynch in this match was a talented wrestler without a purpose. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 My reason for hunting around the rut with an OTC tag is that the woods are less crowded. Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Parts of the road are unpaved and can become rutted and rough. Paul McHugh, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 But where some see character, others see a dirty track, as rutted as an old washboard, that grows less appealing with each flat tire and trip to the carwash. Jayne Orenstein, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 For some, the trip meant enduring long stretches on rutted dirt roads. Jenny Vrentas Isabella Moore, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023 The most important factor impacting whitetail rutting activity isn’t the weather or moon phase. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 19 Oct. 2023 Rut Activity Will Continue Even When the Weather Warms Yep, deer will keep on rutting even when the weather warms. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2023 The Farmer’s Almanac also lists other historic names, including: the digging moon (a Tlingit name), deer rutting moon (Dakota and Lakota), whitefish moon (Algonquin), frost moon (Cree and Assiniboine), and freezing moon (Anishinaabe). Emily Newhouse, Allure, 22 Nov. 2023 The road had vanished, churned into a sandy, rutted track by the hundreds of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles that have fanned out across the territory since Israel invaded in late October. Patrick Kingsley Daniel Berehulak, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023 Having a doe on the ground can actually draw in rutting bucks, Thomas says. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English rutte, from Middle French ruit rut, disturbance, from Late Latin rugitus roar, from Latin rugire to roar; akin to Middle Irish rucht roar, Old Church Slavonic rŭžati to neigh

Noun (2)

perhaps modification of Middle French route way, route

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1600, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rut was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rut

Cite this Entry

“Rut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rut. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rut

1 of 4 noun
1
: a track worn by a wheel or by frequent passage
2
: a usual or fixed routine
I need a change—I'm getting in a rut
rutty
ˈrət-ē
adjective

rut

2 of 4 verb
rutted; rutting
: to make a rut in

rut

3 of 4 noun
: the period during which male animals (as elk or deer) display behavior associated with the urge to breed

rut

4 of 4 verb
rutted; rutting
: to exhibit behavior associated with the rut
used of a male animal
Etymology

Noun

probably derived from early French route "route, way"

Noun

Middle English rutte "state of sexual excitement," from early French ruit "rut, disturbance," from Latin rugitus "roar," from earlier rugire "to roar"

Medical Definition

rut

1 of 2 noun
1
: a periodic and often annually recurring state of certain male animals (such as deer or elk) during which behavior associated with the urge to breed is displayed
2
: the period of time during which rut occurs : breeding season

rut

2 of 2 intransitive verb
rutted; rutting
: to be in or enter into a state of rut

More from Merriam-Webster on rut

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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